
Qass. 



Book. 



BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS ^' 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA 



EMBRACING 



A Comprehensive Compendium of Local Biography-Memoirs of Representative 

Men and Women of the County Whose Works of Merit 

Have Made Their Names Imperishable, 



Special Articles Prepared by Hon. Hugh Dougherty, Evan T. Ch; 
P. A. Allen, xMrs. D. T. Smith, Hon. Joseph S. Dailey, 
George E. Fulton, M. D., and Thomas Sturgis, D. D. S. 



LaLUSTRATRD 



1903 

B. F. BOWEN, PUBLISHER 
LOGANSPORT, IND. 



lli>H 



jl 



10 



PREFACE. 



T N PLACING the Biographical Memoirs of ^Vells County before tlie citi.en. 
j the pubhsher can conscientiously claim that he has carried out in full every 
promise made in the prospectus. He points with pride to the elegance of 
the bmding of the ^■olume, and to the beauty of its typography, to the su- 
penonty of the paper on ^yhich the ^york is printed, and to the truthfulness 
depicted by its portraits and the high class of art in ^yhich they are finisl,ed. 
E^■ery biographical sketch has been submitted for correction and approval to 
the person for ^yhom it was written, and therefore any error of fact if there 
be an)-, is due solely to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. 

The sex-eral special articles frdm the pens of well known citizens of the 
county cannot fail but be of unusual interest, the writers touching upon those 
phases of the county's history with which they are most familiar. The pub- 
hsher would here ayail himself of the opportunity to thank the citizens of 
Wdh county for the uniform kindness with ^vhich they haye regarded this 
undertaking, and for their many services rendered in assisting in the gaining 
of necessary information. Confident that our efforts to please will fulh- mee't 
\yith the approlxation of the public. \ye are. 
Respectfully. 

B. F. BOWEN, Publisher. 



INDEX-PART I, 



Historical Resume 1° 

Industrial Progress of Wells County, by Hon. Hugh Dougherty ^2 

Agricultural Progress in Wells County, by Evan T. Chalfant 43 

Public Education, by P. A. Allen 49 

Literature and Its Progress, by Mrs. D. T. Smith 62 

The Bench and Bar, by Hon. Joseph S. Dailey 70 

Medical History of Wells County, by George E. Fulton, M. D 78 

Dentistry, bv Thomas Sturgis, D. D. S 86 



INDEX-PART II. 



Abbott. A. S 423 

Abbott, Daniel W 501 

Abbott. William H 502 

Abshire. Lewis C 25S 

Alberson. Charles 240 

Alberson, Philip B 240 

Allen. Hamon 592 

Allen. P. A 425 

Allen. Robert 592 

Alspach, Daniel 200 

Alspach, John A 311 

Archbold. T. W 4S8 

Archbold. William G 491 

Arnold. Adam 361 

Arnold. William C 547 

Awkerman, Joseph 350 

Awkerman. Joseph. Sr 350 

Baker, John 165 

Batson, Nathaniel 152 

Batson. S. J 152 

Beavans. James IGO 

Beavans, John W 160 

Beberstein. Ferdinand 320 

Beck, John M 344 

Bevingrton. O. B ISO 

Bevington. R. A 180 

Bickel, Simon B 504 

Bierie, Christian 316 

Bierie. Bli C 315 

Bloxsom, James 24S 

Bloxsom, William 248 

Blue, C. L., M. D 50S 

Blue, Hon. M. C 581 

Bock, C. C. M 149 

Bock, J. W 149 

Booher. John 266 

Botts. E. H., M. D 558 

Bower. Joel 259 

Bower. Henry 286 

Bower, Simon 259 

Bowman, William E 348 



Brickley, George 158 

Brickley. Peter 158 

Brineman, C, S 236 

Brineman, John 23G 

Brineman, Malachi 237 

Brown, Mrs. Sarah E 593 

Buck, John M 334 

Buckner, Capt. Philip 567 

Burns, Joseph 572 

Campbell, Samuel 589 

Caps, George L 305 

Caps, George W 304 

Carrysot, Adolphus 415 

Chalfant, Evan L 490 

Clark, Mrs. Frances 223 

Clark, I. K 154 

Clark, John 1 381 

Clark, Matthew J 154 

Clark, Robert 559 

Clark. Rufus B 380 

Clark. Sargeant 380 

Cloud. Thomas C 117 

Colbert, William 184 

Cotton, George W 190 

Cotton, Samuel G 190 

Crites, Jesse 511 

Crites, John 511 

Dailey, Hon. Joseph S 96 

Davis, Edwin R 518 

Dawson, John 225 

Deam, John C 486 

Deam, John H 500 

Deam. Lewis E 500 

DeHaven. L. L 181 

DeHaven, Walter B 182 

Derr, Capt. E. E 460 

Dettinger, John G 358 

Dettmer, John D 480 

Ditzler, John R 506 

Donaldson, Robert 147 

Donaldson, W. A 146 



Dougherty, Hon. Hugh 89 

Dulinsky, George 261 

Dulinsky, William 261 

Dunwiddie, William 345 

Durr, John Henry 433 

Dyson, Charles E 275 

Dyson, George 296 

Earl, George W 593 

Ehret, William 493 

Eichhorn, David 187 

Eichhorn, Philip 187 

Elick, Jonas 587 

Elick, William 552 

Elzey, Abner S 402 

Engle, Robert M 206 

Engle, William L 340 

Falk, Joseph 453 

Fatscher, Jacob 464 

Feeser, John G 136 

Feeser. Josiah 136 

Fisher, Daniel 549 

Fleming. Aaron 128 

Ford, Charles H 179 

Ford. Thomas 179 

French. Amos 201 

French. John G 201 

Fry. Joel 421 

Fulton, Hon. George E 104 

Fulton, J. C, M. D 427 

Punk, C. B 221 

Funk. John B 366 

Funk, Samuel D 221 

Garton, Henry J 420 

Garton, Marion 418 

Gavin, George M 530 

Gavin, J. B 384 

Gavin, R, F 326 

Gehrett, Amos 219 

Gehrett, Mrs. Elizabeth 143 

Gehrett, Henry S 144 

Gesler, Lewis 441 



INDEX— PART II. 



Clock, John 471 

Goodyear, J. W 376 

Green, James 254 

Green, P. S 254 

Haflich, Andrew J 551 

Haflich, Eli 588 

Haflich, Samuel A 586 

Haiflich, Isaac 443 

Haiflich, William 442 

Hamilton, Augustus W 562 

Hatfield, Adam 130 

Hatfield, Adam, Jr 131 

Hatfield, Hiram 131 

Hatfield, Isaac N., M. D 138 

Hatfield, James C 130 

Hatfield, John 130 

Heckley. Martin 494 

Hedges, Elijah 571 

Hedges. Robert M 571 

Helm, George 381 

Henline, Joseph H 400 

Hogg, John H 454 

Holcomb, J. H., M. D 438 

Hoopengarner. George 514 

Hower. B. F 424 

Hower. John Y 580 

Hudson Family 218 

Hudson, Wilson 216 

Huffman. David C, M, D.. . . 419 

Huffman, George W 230 

Huffman, Henry 192 

Huffman, Levi 192 

Hunsicker, Henry H 120 

Hurst, Samuel 282 

Hurst, Thaddeus S 282 

Huyette, Prof. Arthur R 370 

Huyette, Joseph R 370 

Hyde, John S 168 

Irwin, Robert C 544 

Johns, Henry E 277 

Johnson. Abraham W 519 

Johnson, Jonas 441 

Johnson, Lewis M 51S 

Johnson, Noah 556 

Jones, John 515 

Kain, B, F 595 

Keefer, James H 352 

Keller, David 143 

Kemp, Joel 386 

Kilander. Perry 197 

Kilander, R. A 144 

Kimble, George W 156 

Kimble, Uzal 157 



Kizer, Martin 285 

Kizer, Martin, Sr 285 

Kleinknight, William F 495 

Knott, James 185 

Knott, Samuel C 185 

Krehl, Frederick 204 

Krehl. Jacob F 204 

Kreigh. Samuel M 470 

Krewson. John S 466 

Kunkel. Calvin 412 

Kunkel. Michael 413 

Kunkel. William A 326 

Lancaster, Harvey B 456 

Lancaster, Louis G 312 

Lancaster, Nathan 313 

Lassiter, H. H 557 

Leavengood, Silas G 547 

Lechner, George W 474 

-T:e^, John 279 

Lee, Jonathan R 176 

Lee, William 176 

Leist, George 521 

Lesh, Jacob 445 

Lipkey, William 368 

Lobsiger, John 365 

Lockwood, James E 227 

Long, Michael 336 

Lounsbury, Smith 141 

Lounsbury, Sylvester 140 

McAfee, Jacob 444 

McAfee. John 437 

McBride, James L., M. D 560 

McBride. William W 583 

McCollister, Henry C 33? 

WcCullick, H. C "378 

McCullick, Lot 327 

McDowell, William 360 

McFarren, George F 332 

McFarren, Harry 333 

Mann, Henry A 166 

Mann, Michael 166 

Markley, John 383 

Markley, Mrs. Jacob B 517 

Markley, Jonathan J 447 

Markley. William D 383 

Mast, Abraham 498 

Mast, Uriah 497 

Matlack, David T 537 

Matlack, William 537 

Merriman, Alfred T 542 

Metts, A. H., M. D 463 

Metts, John 1., M. D 467 

Meyer, Albert 575 



Meyer, David 577 

Meyer, Jonas 336 

Meyer, Peter 375 

Meyer. Peter 575 

Miller. Andrew J 446 

Miller. Charles M 398 

Miller, G. W, G 357 

Miller, Henry 232 

Miller, Jacob 399 

Miller, John A 505 

Miller, Michael 232 

Minnich, Jacob 125 

Minnlch, John 125 

Minniear, Joseph 528 

Minniear, Lewis A 528 

! Mock, Daniel 106 

Mock, Emsley 106 

Mock, Hon. Levi 105 

Moore, Cornelius 535 

Moore, Joseph B 534 

! Morris, John Pickett 568 

Morris, Thomas B., M. D 567 

Mosure, Frank W 328 

Mosure, Jonathan 328 

Moiinsey, James P 539 

Myers, Ludwig 484 

Neff, Hercules H 510 

Neff, John N 522 

Neher, John 299 

Neher, Samuel 299 

Neher, Samuel 1 293 

Nelson, James 163 

Nelson. Solomon B 162 

Nevius, George R 487 

Niriter, George 481 

Niriter, John 481 

Nutter, Levi 310 

Nutter, Louis A 310 

Ochsenrider, David 314 

Ochsenrider, Elias 314 

Oppenheim, Albert 578 

Oppenheim, Sigmund 578 

Ormsby, Albert 553 

Palmer, Samuel H 174 

Park, Matthew J 452 

Paxson, Mahlon 1 403 

Perdue. James 118 

Perdue, James, Sr 119 

Poling. Silas 540 

Popejoy. Lawson 550 

Pouless, William 178 

Prillaman, Lewis 103 

Ralstian, William 329 



INDEX— PART II. 



Rapp, Frederick 483 

Reeves, Dennis 284 

Reeves, John H 284 

Rex, John 461 

Rinear, Charles 354 

Rinear, John W 354 

Risley, Franl<lin P 288 

Roberts, Nathan 373 

Roberts, Robert 373 

Roe, Arthur F 491 

Roe, Charles E 591 

Roe, Ezekiel 477 

Roe, Jeremiah 509 

Roe, John F 565 

Rogers, Philo 102 

Rolli, Gottlieb 372 

Rose, Joseph 229 

Rupright, W. H 457 

Saunders, C. B., M. D 213 

Saunders, George L 397 

Saunders, J. E., M. D 213 

Schaffter, Henry 189 

Schott, G. B 342 

Schott, Peter 318 j 

Schwob, Amos 208 j 

Schwob, John 208 j 

Schwartz, Levi 499 

Scott, Nathan Macy 264 

Scott, Stanton 264 

Seaman, Jonathan 554 

Settlemeyer, James M 564 

Sheets, John 440 

Sheets, William 440 

Shepherd, Harrison 524 

Shepherd, John S 270 

Shepherd, S. E 524 

Shoemaker, W. K 521 

Shorts, Nicholas W 478 



Shumaker, W. A 253 

Sills, Daniel 363 

Sixbey, Charles C 112 

Sixbey, Col. John 112 

Slusher, Josiah 238 

Smith, Benjamin P 523 

Smith, Jacob J 531 

Smuts, Jacob 563 

Snow, Giffon 301 

Snow, G. H 294 

Snow, Henry 294 

Snyder, Lewis F 475 

Sours, A. W 245 

Sours, Samuel 245 

Spaulding, Levi 290 

Spaulding, Stephen 290 

Speheger, Abraham 211 

Springer, John M 485 

Sprowl, John W 533 

Stafford, John 198 

Stafford, Nelson E 198 

Stahl, Joseph 364 

Stegkamper, Henry 169 

Stogdill, Christ 516 

Studabaker, A. T 272 

Studabaker, D. D 570 

Studabaker, Hugh D 430 

Studabaker, John 99 

Studabaker, William 272 

Sturgis, John E 435 

Swaim. David H 122 

Swaim, William T. T 122 

Taylor, Theodore 322 

Taylor, Theodore, Sr 322 

Taylor, William H 587 

Taylor, William P 472 

Templin, Sanford H 242 

Templin, Terry 242 



Terhune, Albert E 308 

Terhune, Edward 303 

Terhune, Henry. Sr 303 

Terhune, William 292 

Tharp, A. B 194 

Tharp, Isaac M 194 

Todd, Jacob 388 

Todd, Jacob J 388 

Todd, Nelson K 134 

Turner, George 183 

Turner, James 183 

Ullman, J. A 173 

Unrue, George 251 

Unrue. Joseph 251 

Vitz, Rev. Peter 280 

Walbert, Hon. M. W 115 

Walker, John A 513 

Walters, Cyrus 455 

AVasson, James 409 

Wasson, Thomas M 406 

Watson, John M 324 

Watson, Mark 324 

Wells, Bunyon J 224 

Wheeler, Thomas 256 

Wheeler, Thomas W 256 

Williams, Amos R 297 

Wiley, Capt. Benjamin F.... 171 

Wiley. William 171 

Wilkin, William 450 

Williams, Edgar C 306 

Williams, John 268 

Williams, J. S 297 

Williams, J. W 263 

Williams, 0. R 263 

Williams, Thomas 268 

Williams, Thomas 306 

Wisner, John 234 

Woodward, W. A 459 



INTRODUCTORY. 



"Progress — man's distinctive mark alone. 
Not God's and not the beasts,. 
God is; they are: 
Man partly is and partly hopes to be." 

— Browning. 

Out of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlyle wrote : "History is the 
essence of innumerable biographies." Further than this what propriety can 
there be for advancing reasons for the compilation of such a work as the one 
at hand? Wells county. Indiana, has sustained within its confines men who 
ha^^e been prominent in the history of the state and nation from the early 
territorial epoch. The annals teem with the records of strong and noble man- 
hood and gracious womanhood, and, as Sumner said, "The true grandeur of 
nations is in those qualities which constitute the true greatness of the indi- 
vidual." The final causes which shape the fortunes of individual men and the 
destinies of states are often the same. They are usually remote and obscure : 
their influence wholly unexpected until declared by results. When they in- 
spire men to the exercise of courage, self-denial, enterprise and industry, and 
call into play the higher moral elements ; lead men to risk all upon convic- 
tion, faith.— such causes lead to the planting of great states, great nations, 
great peoples. That nation is greatest which produces the greatest and most 
manly men, and the intrinsic safety depends not so much upon methods and 
measures as upon that true manhood from whose deep sources all that is 
precious and permanent in life must at last proceed. Such results may not 
consciouslv be contemplated by the individuals instrumental in the produc- 
tion of a great nation. Pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, they 
work this out as a logical result. They have wrought along the lines of the 
greatest good. 

Ceaselessly to and fro flies the deft shuttle that weaves the web of human 
destiny, and into the vast mosaic fabric enter- the individuality, the efifort, the 
accomplishment of each man, be his station that most lowly or one of ma- 
jesty, pomp and power. Within the textile folds may be traced the line of 



14 INTRODUCTORY. 



each individnalit)', be it the one that lends the beautiful sheen of honest worth 
and honest endeavor, or one that, dark and zigzag, finds its \va_y through warp 
and woof, marring the composite l)eauty by its Ijlackened threads, ever in evi- 
dence of a shadowed and unprolific life. Into the great aggregate each in- 
dividuality is merged, and yet the essence of each is never lost, be the angle 
of its influence witle-spreading and grateful or narrow and baneful. In his 
efforts he who essays biography finds much, of profit and much of alluring 
fascination when he would follow out, in even a cursory way, the tracings of 
a life history, seeking to find the keynote of each respective personality. 
These eflforts and their resulting transmission can not fail of \-alue in an 
objective way, for in each case may the lesson of life be conned, "line upon 
line: j^recept upon precept." 

Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the in- 
dividual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial develop- 
ment it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a successful life 
is none the less profitable and interesting by reason of the existence of this 
same uncertainty. So much in excess of those of successes are the records 
of failures and semi-failures, that one is constrained to attempt an analysis 
in either case and to determine the method of causation in an approximate 
way. The march of improvement and progress is accelerated day by day, and 
each successive moment seems to demand of men a Iiroader intelligence and 
a greater discernment than did the preceding. Successful men must be live 
men in this glorious twentieth century, and the lessons of biography may be 
far reaching to an extent not superficially evident. A man's reputation is 
the property of the world. The laws of nature have forbidden isolation. 
Every human being either submits to the controlling influence of others or, 
as a master, wields a power for good or evil on the masses of mankind. 
There can lie no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of any man as they 
aiifect his public, social and business relations. If he be honest and successful 
m his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point 
the path along which others may follow with like success. Xot alone are 
thcise worthy of biographic honors who have moved along the loftier planes 
of action, but to an equal extent are those deserving who are of the rank and 
file of the world's workers, for they are not less the conservators of public 
prosperity and material advancement. 



INTRODUCTORY 



Longfellow wrote, "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of 
doing, while others judge us by what we have already done." If this golden 
sentence of the New England bard were uniformly appreciated, many a man 
who is now looking down with haughty stare upon the noble toilers on land 
and sea. sneering at the omission of the aspirate, the cut of his neighbor's 
coat or the humbleness of his dwelling, would be voluntarily doing penance 
in sackcloth and ashes, at the end of which he would handle a spade or. with 
pen in hand, burn the 'midnight oil in his study, in the effort to widen the 
bounds of liberty or to accelerate the material and spiritual progress of his 
race. The humble and lowly often stand representative of the truest nobility 
of character, the deepest patriotism and the most exalted purpose, and through 
all the gradations of life recognition should be had of the true values, and 
then should full appreciation be manifested. 

Tn this compilation, which touches upon the lives and deeds of those who 
ha\-e been the founders and builders of Wells count)-, the editorial staff, as 
well as the publishers, have fully realized the magnitude of the work set before 
them. Within these pages will be found a brief resume of the generic history of 
the county, together with \aluable and interesting articles by special contribu- 
tors who are numbered among the representative citizens of the countv. but 
the more specific province of the work is that of biography, and in the colla- 
tion of the material for the same there has been a constant aim to use a wise 
discrimination in regard to the selection of subjects and yet to exclude none 
worthy of representation withm its pages. Those who have been prominent 
factors in the public, social and industrial affairs of the county in the past 
have been accorded due recognition in so far as it has been possible to secure 
the requisite data. Names worthy of perpetuation have in several instances 
been omitted, either on account of the apathetic interest of those concerned 
or the inability to secure the information demanded. Vet. in both the contem- 
porary narrative and in the meuKjirs of those who ha\-e passed on to "that 
undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," it is believed 
that there has been such utilization of material as to more than fulfill all stipu- 
lations and promises made at the inception of the enterprise. 

In the compilation recourse has been had to divers authorities, including 
various histories and historical collections, and implying an almost endless 
array of papers and docu'ments, public, private, social and ecclesiastical. That 



INTRODUCTORY. 



so much matter could be gathered from so many original sources and then 
sifted and assimilated for the production of a single work without incurring 
a modicum of errors and inaccuracies, would be too much to expect of any 
corps of writers, no matter how able they might be as statisticians or skilled 
as compilers of such works. It is, nevertheless, believed that there will be 
found no inaccuracies of so serious a nature as to impair the historical value 
of the volume, and it is further believed that the results will supply the de- 
mand which called forth the efforts of the publishers and the editorial corps. 

To other and specific works has been left the task of touching in detail 
and with due expansiveness the generic history of the county, for the assigned 
function of this compilation is aside from this and is definite in its scope, so 
that an exhaustive recapitulation would be incompatible and, in view of the 
prescribed limitations, impossible. However, the incidental references made 
to those who have been the important actors in the public and ci\-ic history 
of this favored section of the great commonwealth of Indiana will serve to 
indicate the generic phases and will shadow forth much to those who can 
•'read between the lines." In conclusion we can not do better than to quote 
another of Carlyle's terse aphorisms:- "There is no heroic poem in the 
world but is at bottom a bioghaphy, — the life of man." 



PART I, 



HISTORICAL RESUME. 



Out of the depths of his mature wisdom 
Carlyle wrote : "History is the essence of 
innumerable biographies," and though the 
province of this pubHcation is distinctively 
that of offering generic history from this 
specific basis which the great philosopher 
so clearly apprehended, yet there can be no 
doubt of the incidental value, in the connec- 
tion, of a brief review of the genesis and 
rise of this favored section of the state of 
Indiana, and such an epitome is offered in 
the appending paragraphs. 

As to the relative location and the topog- 
raphy of the county it is needless to enter 
into much of detail. It is situate slightly 
below the forty-first parallel of north lati- 
tude, is about eighty-five degrees west of 
the prime meridian of Greenwich, and 
eight degrees to the west of the 
federal capital, the meridan time being 
thus twenty minutes in advance of the 
standard, so far as practical purposes are 
concerned. The northern part of Indiana 
is a portion of that great section formerly 
submerged by the inland seas of which the 
Great Lakes are the remaining vestiges, and 



its geological integrity is characterized by 
what has been technically designated as the 
drift, — the deposition of material by the ac- 
tion of the waters which formerly swept 
over its surface. In this particular section 
the tendency of the strata dip is principally 
westward, but in Adams and Wells counties 
the drift was to the northward, with an aver- 
age of eight feet to the mile in the dip. The 
county lies next east of Grant and Hunting- 
ton counties, and is of the fourth tier south 
of the line of the state of Michigan, while it 
extends north and south a distance of 
twenty-four miles, with its south boundary 
twenty miles in width and its north fourteen 
miles, Jackson township jutting out to the 
west on the southern border and causing 
the irregularity of contour, which is some- 
what in the form of a reversed L. Within 
the borders of the county are comprised nine 
organic townships, or nine whole and 
three half congressional townships, the 
aggregate area of the county being 
three hundred and seventy-two square 
miles. As to the nature of the 
strata underlying the surface it may be said 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



that in drilling at Bluffton, the county cap- 
ital, to a depth of twelve hundred feet, the 
drift was indicated to a depth of twelve 
feet, and below this lay in turn, and in vary- 
ing depths, the following strata: Water 
limestone, Niagara limestone, crystal lime- 
stone, Clinton group, shale, slate and Tren- 
ton group. Though the constituency of the 
subsoil is in the main gravelly, excellent 
brick clay is found in many localities, and 
good limestone along the river courses and 
near the surface, with occasional outcrop- 
pings, this product being well adapted for 
industrial uses. A terminal moraine is 
found to the south of the Maumee valley, 
this being the summit uf the watershed be- 
tween the Ohio river and Lake Erie, and the 
elevation is nearly three hundred and fifty 
feet above the surface of the lake mentioned, 
while the boulder clay is here of greater 
thickness than in any other point in Indi- 
ana; in Wells county are shown many su- 
perficial evidences of the glacial drift. The 
accumulations of sand and gravel are, geo- 
logically, of comparatively recent deposi- 
tion, while underlying is a thick stratum of 
excellent clay, of well maintained integrity, 
and this constitutes the basis of the magnifi- 
cent agricultural resources of this section. 

As to the superficial character of the 
county, it is in the main gently undulating, 
and the elevation is sufficiently above the 
level of the water courses to render effec- 
tive drainage possible, so that practically 
there is but a minimum portion of land 
which can not be reclaimed for cultivation. 
Within the borders of the county are found 
only two lakes, and these are of insignificant 
dimensions. The largest water course tra- 
versing the county is the Wabash river, the 
second in size is St. Mary's, and the third is 



Salamonie, while other streams which are 
also of value in connection with drainage 
and the promotion of fertility of soil are 
Rock, Six-Mile and Eight-Mile creeks. 
The native timber of the county was origin- 
ally very dense, and the following decidious 
varieties were those most in evidence, as 
they are at the present time: White, burr 
and black oak, white elm, basswood, ash of 
two or three varieties, beech, hickory, yel- 
low poplar, walnut and sugar maple. The 
most prolific of the native fruits is the 
blackberry, which has been most abundant 
in its wild state. White clover and blue 
grass have spontaneously covered the great- 
er portion of the land in the county. As to 
the fauna of the county it may be said that 
in the early days the Virginia deer were 
plentiful, black bear were found in limited 
numbers, panthers were occasionally seen, 
as were also two varieties of wild cats; 
wolves were common. All these have been 
swept away by the onward march of civili- 
zation, while of the smaller animals seen in 
the earlier epoch only a few species remain 
to recall the days when this section was a 
veritable wilderness, in which only the In- 
dian, in his motley garb, disputed dominion 
with the beasts of the forest and field. 

As to the early settlement of Wells 
county, it should be stated in every histori- 
cal compilation that the first white man to 
make permanent location here was Dr. Jos- 
eph Knox, who also was the first to settle 
at any point between Fort Recovery and 
Huntington. In 1829 he took up his abode 
on the southeast quarter of section 18, 
Lancaster township, and within a brief in- 
terval he was here joined by his sons-in- 
law, Vantrees and Warner, who also took 
up land. The three families remained until 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



19 



1832, when they became panic-stricken 
by the rumors concerning the Black Hawk 
war and ah fled from the county. In 1831 
came the brothers AUen and Isaac Norcross, 
who settled near the river below Bluffton, 
hut they also returned eastward during the 
Indian excitement of the following year, 
though the former of the two eventually 
came again to his pioneer farm, and he died 
in this county, in 1879, having been an ec- 
centric character. Jacob Miller settled in 
Rock Creek township in 1832, and soon af- 
terward Henry ]\Iiller located in that vicin- 
ity, both passing the remainder of their 
lives here. From this time forward the 
tide of immigration began to pour in, and 
it is gratifying to note that within the coun- 
ty still remain a number of those sterling 
pioneers who took up their abode here prior 
to 1840, while of those who came later there 
are, as a matter of course, a larger percent- 
age. In the biographical department of 
this work will be found specific mention of 
many of these, so that further consideration 
is not demanded at this juncture. 

The first merchant in the county was 
Bowen Hale, whose primitive little store 
•was located on a farm near the present vil- 
lage of jMurray, in which place, in 1837, 
Jesse (jerhard erected the first mill in the 
county. The first white child born in the 
county was Elizabeth, daughter of Henry 
Miller, the date of her nativity being 1835, 
■while the first white child born in what is 
now the city of Blufifton was \\'illiam Bluff- 
ton Miller, son of Michael Miller, this be- 
ing an event occurring June 4, 1839. The 
first mill at Bluffton was erected in the 
early "forties by Robert B. Turner. Robert 
Simison and Rebecca Davis, in February. 
TS37, initiated the nuptial history of the 



county, being the first couple married with- 
in its environs, there being at the time no 
one in the county authorized to perform the 
marriage ceremony, so that an importation 
of a justice of the peace became necessary 
for the occasion. Rev. Elijah Sutton, a 
Baptist clergyman of the old school, 
preached the first sermon in the county in 
1838, and the first within the city of Bluff- 
ton was delivered by Rev. George W. Bow- 
ers, of the Methodist Episcopal church, the 
services being held in the open air, at the 
foot of Johnson street. The first school 
was taught in 1837, by Jessie B. McGrew, 
in a log cabin on the farm of Adam Miller, 
on the river above Bluffton. The first elec- 
tion occurred in 1836, when not more than 
a dozen votes were polled in the county. The 
first circuit court convened in the log cabin 
of R. C. Bennett, in Bluffton. on October 
19. 1837, Hon. Charles W. Ewing presid- 
ing. The first court house and jail were 
erected in 1838. and the first postoftice, a 
mile distant from Murray, was conducted 
by Bowen Hale, who has been previously 
mentioned. 

The erection of Wells county as an or- 
ganic division of the new state of Indiana 
[ ^vas effected in the year 1S35, when, to- 
gether with .\dams, it was set off from 
.Allen county by enactment of the state leg- 
islature, this being in harmony with a bill 
introduced, during the session of that year, 
by Col. John Vawter, of Jennings county, 
who was chairman of the committee on new 
counties. Said bill was for an act to : "lay 
out all the unorganized territory to which 
the Indian title had been extinguished in the 
state into a suitable number of counties," 
and the approval of the measure occurred 
(Ml the 7th of February, 1835, while under 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



its provisions thirteen counties were organ- 
ized, the name of Wells county being given 
in honor of Capt. William H. Wells, a vic- 
tim of the Fort Dearborn massacre, in Chi- 
cago, in 1812. The special act necessary 
to the erection of Wells county was passed 
and approved February 2, 1837, with a pro- 
vision for a formal organization of the 
county on the ist of the following May, 
while David Bennett was appointed sheriff 
and assigned the duty of notifying the elec- 
tors to assemble at the house of Robert C. 
Bennett, for the purpose of electing three 
commissioners and likewise appointing fi\-e 
non-resident commissioners to determine 
the location of the county seat. As to the 
outcome in the matter of selecting the capi- 
tal of the new county, we quote from a pre- 
vious publication, as follows : "'As these 
five commissioners for some cause failed 
lo meet, a special act of the legislature was 
passed, and approved January 20, 1838, ap- 
pointing Zachariah Smith, of Adams coun- 
ty ; Christopher Hanna, of Jay county ; 
Champion Helvey, of Huntington county ; 
William Kizer, of Randolph cnunty, and 
John Rogers, of Grant count}-, ojmmission- 
ers to locate the permanent seat of justice 
for Wells county. Having been dulv noti- 
fied by Isaac Covert, by this time elected 
sheriff, of their appointment, four of them 
came, the absent member being Zachariah 
.Smith. The contestants for the county seal 
of government were Blufifton and Murrav, 
and at first the four commissioners were 
evenly divided between the two points. 
Their first vote was taken about dusk in the 
evening. Mr. Abraham Studabaker, whose 
land lay at Blufifton, conferred with Daniel 
Miller, of Adams county, who also owned 
property near Bluffton, and was present at 



the county seat contest. The result of the 
deliberation was that Miller should imme- 
diately post off on horse back to Adams 
county and fetch in Smith, the absentee, in 
tmie for the final vote in the morning. Ic 
was very cold ; ten inches of snow were on 
the ground ; not a single road had been cut, 
and there were only traces through the tim- 
ber. He followed the Wabash fourteen 
miles, to the residence of Peter Studabaker, 
w here he obtained a fresh horse, and on he 
pushed, twenty miles more, to the St. 
Mary's river, near the state line, where he 
found his man at three o'clock in tlie 
morning. Returning with him they again 
found fresh horses at Peter Studabaker's, 
and reached Bluffton before the commis- 
sioners met in the morning, after the mes- 
senger had traveled nearly seventy miles, 
mostly during the night and through a deep, 
unbroken snow and se\ere cold. The vote 
thus procured cast the die in favor 
of Bluffton. The report of the com- 
missioners reads thus : 'We met at 
the house of Robert C. Bennett, in 
said county of Wells, on the first Monday 
of March, 1838, and have selected the west 
half of the northeast quarter of section 4, 
township 26, range 12, for the site of the 
seat of justice of Wells county, which land 
was donated by Abraham Studabaker, with 
a reserve of two choice lots. He also do- 
nated 31.90 acres off the east end of the 
south half of the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion T,T,, town 2y. range 12 east. Robert C. 
Bennett donates the southeast fraction of 
the northeast quarter of section 4, town 26, 
range 12 east, with a reserve of two and 
one-half acres in the northeast corner. 
Studabaker and Bennett also donated two 
hundred and seventy dollars in cash.' 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'\NA. 



"But county government did not wait 
for the locating commissioners to do their 
duty. Long before tlie county seat was lo- 
cated, the citizens, in June, 1837, proceeded 
to elect their county board of three com- 
missioners, namely : Solomon Johnson, 
James Scott and R. C. Bennett, Sr., for 
three, two and one years, in the order 
named. At this election six or seven non- 
resident landholders, living in Ohio, were 
permitted to vote, especially as they intend- 
ed soon to move into the county, among 
them being Dr. George T. Riddile, Adam 
Hatfield and John Greer. The first acts of 
these commissioners, as condensed from 
their journal, were as follows : The board 
met Friday, July 21, 1837, at the house of 
R. C. Bennett, in accordance with the above 
recited act, and produced the certificates of 
the sheriff that they had been duly elected 
and qualified. David Bennett produced his 
commission appointing him sheriff (signed 
by Governor Noble) until the next annual 
election. Bowen Hale also produced a 
similar document appointing him clerk of 
A\'ells county. Both were certified to as ha\- 
ing taken the oath as required by law. This 
being done, the board was organized, with 
Solomon Johnson as president. The first 
important acts of the board were in order- 
ing that W. H. Parmalee be appointed 
agent of the three per cent, fund donated 
by the state to the county for roads and 
bridges, acceptance following and bond be- 
ing given by the appointee ; that Adanah 
Hall be appointed treasurer of the county, 
lie also accepting, and giving bond in the 
sum of three thousand dollars; and that 
David Whitman be appointed assessor and 
collector of revenues for the county, his 
bond being fixed at eight hundred dollars. 



For county purposes it was ordered that 
there be levied eighteen cents on each one 
hundred dollars valuation, and fifty cents 
on each poll. 

"For several years taxes were often 
settled by promissory notes, endorsed each 
by two good men. For the first three years 
after the organization of the county it is 
said that the treasurer kept his office in his 
jacket pocket, but was never corrupted or 
approached with a bribe while discharging 
his trust. The fees of the office for a while 
necessarily exceeded the funds in the treas- 
ury, owing to the condition of things. As 
at that time the government lands were ex- 
empt from taxation five years after entry, 
there were but three tracts of land in the 
county subject to taxation. The first tax 
duplicate was made out on a single sheet of 
paper. The fifth order made by the board, 
the next day. was that Wells county be di- 
vided into two election districts, by a line 
commencing on the southern boundary of the 
county and running north between what are 
now Chester and Nottingham townships, 
and Harrison and Liberty townships ; thence 
east two miles between Harrison and Lan- 
caster townships ; thence north to the 
county line. The territory on the east of 
this line w'as designated as Harrison town- 
ship, and that on the west as Rock Creek 
township. At the above session of the 
board Bowen Hale was granted a license 
for one year, for the sum of five dollars, to 
retail merchandise and foreign groceries 
'not the product of the state or of the 
L^nited States." September 4, 1837, the 
board met and 'on motion took their seats.' 
Bowen Hale was allowed fifty-six dollars 
for books for the use of the office, and 
other stationery — inkstands, ink powder, etc. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



"John Casebeer was appointed the first 
surveyor, and the first road estabhshed in 
the county was that part of the state road 
leading from Greenville, Ohio, to Marion, 
Indiana. The expense of location through 
Wells county was fifty-six dollars and sixty- 
two and one-half cents. The next located 
in the county was the Furt Recovery 
and Huntington road, at the November ses- 
sion, 1837. For the opening of this road 
the board appropriated one thousand dol- 
lars of the three per cent, fund." 

While, within the necessary limitations 
of this brief sketch, it will not be possible to 
enter into the chronological details of the 
history of Wells county, there are so many 
salient points of interest apropos of this 
early political epoch of inchoation, that we 
can scarce refrain from taking another 
glance at the perspective of the years ere 
passing forward. David Whitman served 
as "assessor of the revenue" of the county 
for 1837, and John Casebeer was chosen to 
fulfill the duties of this office for the ensu- 
ing year, while at this same session of the 
board of commissioners the first school com- 
missioner of the county was appointed, in 
the person of Thomas T. Smith. In 
August, 1837, an election was held, and on 
tills occasion Isaac Covert was chosen 
sheriff and James R. Greer associate judge, 
while in March of the following year the 
latter was appointed county agent, in which 
connection he gave bond in the sum of five 
thousand dollars. In May of that year the 
board held a session and awarded the sum 
of thirty-eight dollars to John Casebeer for 
surveying and platting the site of Bluffton, 
the recorded plat bearing date of !\Iarch 
23d of that year. In March, 1839, the 
board first extended a bountv on each wolf 



killed, the sum of one dollar being paid for 
each scalp presented, while Adam Hatfield 
had the distinction of being the first to ap- 
pear and demand this tribute. We again 
make excerpt from another's narrative in 
regard to this period : "At the close of this 
year Adnah Hall, treasurer, made his re- 
port, covering the period from November 6, 
1838, to November 6, 1839, which showed 
that there had been received into the treas- 
ury from all sources the sum of $1,419.40. 
His commission was $19.43; notes, $301. 
Total assets of the county, $1,701.41, prin- 
cipally derived from fines and sales of lots. 
At the November session, 1839, Bowen 
Hale, clerk, reported that he had procured 
for the county a metallic seal, and the fol- 
lowing description of the design was or- 
dered to be placed on the minutes : 'A sheaf 
of wheat is the main design ; a plane, a rake, 
a pitchfork; surrounded by the following 
words, to wit : "Commissioners of Wells 
County." ' Prior to this date a scrawl seal 
had been used in official business." 

Concerning the public buildings of Wells 
county, and it must be said to the credit of 
the county that in expenditures in this line 
it has kept pace with the magnificent march 
of development, as is prima facia to every 
one who visits the beautiful little city which 
is its oflficial center, we note that the first 
court house was situated on the west side 
of Main street, between Market and Wa- 
bash streets, in the little frontier village of 
Bluffton, whose streets were still "im- 
proved" with the stumps of the native for- 
est trees. This primitive hall of justice 
was constructed of logs hewed square and 
rose pretentiously to the height of two sto- 
ries, the first being utilized by the courts 
and for all manner of public and semi-pul^- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



23 



lie assemblies, while on the upper floor were 
to be found the one or two offices which the 
county found necessary for the handling of 
its affairs at that time. On the i8th of 
June, 1838, the county commissioners, 
being duly assembled, entered an order that 
the county agent should advertise for the 
letting of a contract for the erection of a 
court house in Bluffton, on the first day of 
the following August, and in the connection 
it is but consonant that we enter the record 
of the specifications provided : "The house 
to be built of hewn logs, eighteen by twenty- 
four feet, two stories high, and covered 
with three-foot boards, nailed on; floor to 
be oak or ash; with six twelve-light win- 
dows, four below and two above, and stairs 
to upper room. Also one jail, of hewn tim- 
ber one foot square, eighteen by twenty 
feet, two stories high." The contract was 
finally let to David Whitman, a farmer re- 
siding a few miles distant from Bluffton, 
and the jail was located about twenty rods 
to the south of the court house, the two be- 
ing, as a matter of course, very similar in 
appearance, though not in the uses to which 
they were applied. Both were eventually 
destroyed by fire. On the 24th of April, 
1843, the board of commissioners entered 
into a contract with Almon Case for the 
erection of the second court house, which 
was to be in keeping with the advancement 
and dignity of the county, the amount to be 
expended being five thousand dollars. Case 
sold the contract to George W. Webster, of 
Marion, Indiana, and under his direction 
the building was completed in 1845, being 
formally accepted b}- the board on October 
5th of that year. This structure was re- 
tained as the ofticial headquarters of the 
county- for manv vears, and for the benefit 



of coming generations, it may not be in- 
appropriate to enter a brief description of 
the building which so long stood as a 
landmark of the county and which at the 
time of its erection was one of the finest 
of the sort in the northern part of the state. 
It was constructed of brick, manufactured in 
the vicinity of the town, fronted the east, 
with four large columns of the colonial type 
adorning this facade, giving a dignified and 
stately appearance, and it was two stories 
in height, the lower being utilized for the 
courts and the upper for the county offices, 
as had been the case with the little log struc- 
ture. Eventually it was found necessary to 
provide smaller brick buildings adjoining 
or upon the premises, in order to furnish 
proper accommodations for the business of 
the county, and these provisions soon 
proved inadequate, so that the county was 
brought face to face with the problem of 
proving its progfessiveness by the erection 
of a new building of modern type and one 
which would enable it to maintain its pres- 
tige among its sister counties. That its peo- 
ple have ever shown a distinctive public 
spirit cannot be doubted, and in 1888 we 
find the project for the providing of a new 
building assuming definite form. At the 
February term of court in that year Judge 
Henry Y. Saylor issued an order from the 
bench condemning the old court house, and 
the commissioners were then forced to order 
the building of a new one. It was erected 
on the site of the old building, the corner 
stone being laid, with appropriate cere- 
monies, on August 29, i88g. The building 
was completed and was duly dedicated by 
the bar of the county on the 2d of March, 
1891. The original appropriation, under 
which the contract was assumed, was one 



24 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



himdrefl and twenty-five tliousand dollars, 
wliich did not include the furniture, various 
fittings and certain outside improvements, 
to cover which an additional expenditure of 
fifteen thousand dollars was made. The 
architects were George \V. Bunting & Son, 
of Indianapolis, and the contractor was 
Christian Boseker, of Fort Wayne. The 
board of commissioners which awarded the 
contract comprised W. H. Rupright, 
Charles Scotten and Nathaniel Alclntn-e. 
while Charles M. Miller was county auditor 
at the time. The same commissioners were 
in office when the building was completed 
and accepted it in behalf of the county. The 
building is eighty-seven feet in width and 
one hundred and thirty-five feet in length, 
and the material used in the construction 
is a fine grade of sandstone taken from the 
quarries on the line between Indiana and 
Michigan. The structure is of the Roman- 
escjue style of architecture and is particu- 
larly symmetrical and effective in design, 
the height of the tower being one hundred 
and thirty feet, while the interior finishing 
is of quarter-sawed oak. 

In 1855-6 a brick jail was built a short 
distance south of the second court house, 
and this later was occupied by some of the 
county offices. The present jail and sher- 
iff's residence was erected in 1880, at an 
expenditure of twenty-one thousand four 
hundred dollars, which indicates that it is 
thoroughly modern in design and equip- 
ment. It is forty-four by eighty feet m 
extreme dimensions, and its spire rises to 
a height of seventy-five feet above the 
ground level. The building is of the French 
renaissance style of architecture and is verv 
attractive, being constructed of brick and 
stone, two stories in height with mansard 



roof, covered with slate; it has a cellar 
throughout, and the prison wall is lined 
with one-fourth-inch boiler iron. It is situ- 
ated one square southwest of the court 
house, and Jonathan P. Smith, of Bluft'ton, 
was the contractor. 

The county infirmary and orphans' 
home is located a few miles southeast of 
Bluffton, on the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 23, Harrison township, the farm com- 
prising one hundred and fifty-six acres and 
liaving been purchased by the cr^unty in 
1864, nearly the entire tract being now un- 
der cultivation. The main infirmary build- 
ing was erected in 1875, at a cost of about 
sixteen thousand dollars and is substantially 
constructed of brick. Various nnprove- 
ments have been made, including the instal- 
lation of a steam-heating plant, baths, etc. 
The barn on the premises was destroyed by 
fire in 1900 and a new building was erected 
at a cost of six thousand dollars. The in- 
stitution has been on the whole ably con- 
ducted, the county showing no inchnation to 
neglect its eleemosynary obligations, but 
making ample provision for the unfortunate 
wards of its charity. The value of the prop- 
erty is now about thirty thousand dollars 
and in the infirmary accommodations are 
afforded for about fifty inmates, the average 
number in the institution in the past few 
years having been about thirty-five. The 
orphans' home has a capacity for the ac- 
commodation of twenty persons, and the 
average number of inmates is twelve. 

Concerning the census returns as touch- 
ing Wells county, we enter the following 
summary: In i860 the total population 
was 10,844: 1870, 13.585; 1880, 18,442; 
1890, 21.514: and 1900. 23,449, showing 
that the increments in population have 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



25 



come gradually and normally. The popu- 
lation of the townships, according to the 
census of 1900, is as follows: Chester, 
2,345 ; Harrison, 6,548 ; Jackson, 2,237 '• 
Jefferson, 2,455; Lancaster, 2.169; Liberty, 
1,976; Nottingham, 2,654: Rock Creek, 
1,560; Union, 1,505. 

Since the erection of the two original 
townships of Harrison and Rock Creek, at 
the first meeting of the original board of 
commissioners, in July, 1837, other town- 
ships have been set ofif as follows : Jackson, 
September 4, 1837; Jefferson, March 3, 
1840; Nottingham, January 4. 1841 ; Ches- 
ter and Lancaster, March i, 1841, and 
Union, June 7, 1847. Jackson has been 
designated as the "lost township," from the 
fact that the counties about it were so 
formed that it could not be attached to any 
one of the number without the formation 
of a geographical projection, and by this 
means ^\'ells county assumes somewhat tlie 
form of a reversed L, as has been already 
noted in this context. 

The title of "palladium of liberty," as 
applied to the newspaper press of our re- 
public, is no misnomer, and while no at- 
tempt will be made in this connection to 
enter into details as to the various papers 
which have come into the journalistic field 
in Wells county, many to continue in ef- 
fecti\-e work and others to have but ephem- 
eral existence, it will not be inconsistent to 
here make mention concerning the incep- 
tional enterprises in the "art preservative of 
all arts." Wells county has been favored 
Axith a local vehicle of news since the year 
1847, when was established the first news- 
paper, the Republican Bugle, whose politics 
were Democratic and whose editor and 
publisher was Thomas Smith, who had been 



a soldier in the Mexican war. Of this 
venture a previous historical work has spok- 
en as follows: "It was, of course, a small 
sheet; was printed in large type, on a Ram- 
age (wooden) press, but being started at a 
premature stage of the settlement of the 
country, it failed to receive sufficient sup- 
port and was suspended after an existence 
of about two years. Probably every village 
in the great west has been the scene of such 
premature newspaper enterprises. Early 
papers, however, gave but little local news. 
It was not the fashion then to give appar- 
ently small items of matters near home. 
Mr. Smith died in April, 1850." The lead- 
ing and official paper in the county has al- 
ways been the Bluffton Banner, which was 
established in 1850 and which has ever 
stood as the stanch advocate of Democratic 
principles, being practically the successor of 
the Bugle. The first editors and proprietors 
of the Banner were Samuel G. Upton and 
Lewis S. Grove, and the ownership has been 
many times changed, the present executive 
and editorial principals in this well conduct- 
ed enterprise being Messrs. George L. Saun- 
ders, Albert Oppenheim and W. H. Eich- 
horn. The Banner now issues daily editions 
as well as a weekly. The People's Press, Re- 
jiublican in politics, was established in 1855, 
bv John L. Wilson and Michael Karns. 
Within the first year of the war of the Re- 
bellion the name of the paper was changed 
to the Wells County Union: in 1866 it be- 
came the Wells County Standard, and three 
years later the name was changed to the 
Wells County Chronicle, which has since 
been retained, though there have been sev- 
eral changes in ownership and one or more 
temporary suspensions in publication. The 
present publisher is D. H. Swaini. The 



26 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Chronicle is a weekly publication and both 
this and the Banner are issued in the city 
of Bluffton. Mr. Swaim also publishes the 
News, a daily, which is independent in 
politics. The Wells County Times, as an ex- 
ponent of the principles and policies of the 
Greenback party, was established in 1878, 
by James Gerry Smith, and like the other 
Bluffton papers it had various changes in 
ownership; it is now extinct. The People's 
Press is a weekly paper and expounds the 
principles of socialism, Carl Venis being 
the proprietor. There are other papers in 
the county, and each is apparently exercis- 
ing its functions to the satisfaction of pa- 
trons, proving an excellent exponent of local 
mterests. 

Of the beautiful little city of Bluffton, 
the official, and practically geographical, 
center of the county, we may say that the 
euphonious and consistent name was one 
suggested by the late Robert C. Bennett, Sr., 
by reason of the fact that the city is located 
on the more bluff like shore of the river, the 
first official mention of the name appearing 
on the records of 1838. In March of that 
year the original plat of the town was sur- 
veyed, under the direction of the newly ap- 
pointed county surveyor, John Casebeer, 
and the county agent, James R. Greer, one 
hundred and ninety-one lots being laid out, 
while the plat was duly recorded on the 28th 
of the month mentioned. At the session of 
the county commissioners in the following 
June, they ordered the county agent to in- 
stitute the sale of lots on the i6th instant 
and to continue until all were sold, as pre- 
scribed — that is, each alternate lot was to be 
thus disposed of, while three or four were 
reserved for Almon Case, in compensation 
for his entertaining those who came hither 



for the sale. It is interesting to record 
that the "purchasers should have the priv- 
ilege of cutting all timber that might en- 
danger themselves or their property." The 
first lot sold for ninety-two dollars, and 
others brought proportionate prices, while 
the occasion was a notable one in the new 
county. To Mr. Case was issued the frrst 
tavern license in the county, and his first 
caravansery was succeeded by the Exchange 
Hotel, also conducted by him. It was long 
a landmark at the southeast corner of Main 
and Market streets and a place prolific in 
memories of the old stage-coach days. Ten 
per cent of the funds derived from the sale 
of lots was reserved, with rare foresight, 
for a county library, an institution that has 
kept pace with the progress of the inter- 
vening years and which is a distinct credit 
to the county. An addition of fifty-six lots 
was made to the original plat in August, 
1838, and since that time many additions 
have been platted to accommodate the con- 
secutive growth and development of the 
city. Continuing further mention of the in- 
ception of our now attractive county capi- 
tal, we quote from a previous publication 
as to the nature of early "improvements" 
and conveniences : "The next month (Sep- 
tember, 1838) John Studabaker, the first 
merchant in Bluffton, obtained from the 
commissioners license to sell merchandise. 
He erected a log cabin, with clapboard 
doors, into which he moved his meager 
stock. This he bartered, instead of selling 
for cash, coonskins and furs being the com- 
mon medium of exchange. Coonskins were 
practically legal tender. He had no oc- 
casion for burglar-proof safes. About the 
same time the clerk's office was built, and 
these two fabrics then comprised all the im- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



27 



provements on Market street, the view be- 
tween them being obstructed by timber of 
various dimensions, so that strangers had 
generally to be piloted from one to the 
other." Mr. Studabaker became one of the 
most prominent and influential citizens and 
business men of the county, and still con- 
tinues to be actively concerned in the busi- 
ness and financial affairs of Bluffton. 

The population of Blufifton in 1840 was 
two hundred and twenty-five, while accord- 
ing to the census of 1900 it has 4,479 in- 
habitants, its growth having been consecu- 
tive and of normal character, while it com- 
pares more than favorablly with other cities 
of comparative population in the state. Its 
first board of trustees comprised the follow- 
ing named citizens : Lewis S. Grove, Joseph 
A. Williams, Engler Starr, William Strode 
and Nelson Kellogg. The place was in- 
corporated on the I2th of February, 185 1, 
and David Angle was chosen its first mayor 
and Theodore Horton clerk, while the mem- 
bers of the first council were Thomas L. 
Wisner. Bowen Hale, John Eby and C. T. 
Melsheimer; marshal, John Plessinger; 
treasurer, Erastus K. Bascom ; street com- 
missioner, George McDowell. The original 
council proceeded to transact its business 
with due decorum and dignity, and its first 
ordinances had to do with the imposition 
of a dog tax and a proper tax on real and 
personal property, with the customary poll 
tax of fifty cents, returns from this last 
source being applied to street improve- 
ment. Another ordinance imposed a fine 
for riding or driving faster than a common 
trot within the corporate limits, save in case 
of seeking the services of a physician, while 
regulations were made in regard to shooting 
for sport, gambling or disorderly conduct 
and the sale of spirituous liquors. 



The city of today has a good representa- 
tion of manufacturing industries and well 
equipped mercantile establishments; its 
business blocks are, in the main, of attract- 
ive and substantial order, the public im- 
provements have been made with due con- 
servatism and yet with a liberality which 
has provided the best of accessories in the 
line; the school and church buildings indi- 
cate the progressive attitude and the ad- 
vanced moral status of the community, and 
here are to be found in significant evidence 
the various social and fraternal organiza- 
tions which make for the bettering of con- 
ditions and for the enjoyment of the people 
of any community. Civic pride is in evi- 
dence on every hand, and is in no particu- 
lar more patently exemplified than in the 
many beautiful homes, the spirit of emula- 
tion and appreciation being shown in the 
care given to even the more unpretentious 
residences, very few neglected properties 
marring the symmetry and attractiveness o"' 
the well kept streets. Blufi'ton is essentially 
a modern little city, in all the term implies ; 
it is a prosperous city, both as a municipal- 
ity and through individual enterprise, and 
its people are so placed as to have the "gold- 
en mean" of neither poverty or great riches, 
so that social intercourse is fixed on the 
most happy basis. In this article it is not 
intended to give more than a reminiscent 
glance at any one topic of the county his- 
tory of the early days, or more than a word 
of inference as to present conditions, but it 
is hoped that this brief review will indicate 
more than superficially appears and will 
complement the more significant record ap- 
pearing in the personal sketches of those 
who have here lived and labored. 

Within the borders of Wells county are 
found many villages and hamlets of attract- 



2% 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



ive order, while in the southern portion 
marked advancement has been made in these 
minor towns tlirougli tlie development of 
the oil industry, whose importance is cer- 
tain to become scarcely second to that of 
agriculture in this section. Ossian, a beau- 
tiful little village of about six hundred 
population, is located about nine miles north 
of Blufifton and was laid out by the town- 
ship trustees on the 14th of March, 1850. 
It is located in Jefferson township and is a 
progressive town, with the best class of 
■citizenship. The first settlers of Jefferson 
township were Samuel Ogden and Robert 
and William Craig, who here located in 
1837, while in the following year came 
Richard Treenary, Thomas and James Fer- 
guson. Robert Ewell and Adam Hatfield, 
while among the other early settlers were 
John Davis. Jacob Bunn. Levi Young. 
Samuel Weston. John Snyder, Joseph Hat- 
field. J. R. Lefever, Jacob and Martin King. 
William Webster, John Ogden. two bear- 
ing the name of Martin King. Joseph Gor- 
rell. William Ouackenbush and Ellison 
Covert. The first township election was 
held April 6, 1840, at the house of William 
Craig, and the following officers were elect- 
ed: Trustees. Philip Sower. Richard Tree- 
nary and Adam Hatfield; clerk. George 
Weston ; treasurer, Jacob Bunn ; justice of 
the peace, Samuel Weston. The Ferguson 
road, running east and west, a half mile 
north of Ossian, to Decatur, was the nrst 
road opened in the township. Near the 
center of Liberty township is located the 
village of Liberty Center, which was laid 
out November 12, 1878. bv John W. 
Rinear and John Ernst, and which is now a 
thriving town. The village of Poneto lies 
partly in Liberty and partly in Harrison 



township and has a population of about 
three hundred, the major portion of the 
town being in Liberty township. It was 
laid out by Simeon Tappy. on the 4th of 
Septemljer. 1871. The present name was 
given to the place in 1880. The first set- 
tlers in Liberty township were James Jack- 
son and Henry Mossburg. who came here 
in the winter of 1836-7. while among those 
who took up their abode here within the 
years immediately following were G. H. 
and Johnson King. James Jackson. David 
Chapman. Stuart Bolton. Benjamin Men- 
denhall, John McFarren, David Goings. 
George Sparks. George P. Mann, James M. 
Merriman, John Hupp. John Muncie and 
Jacob First. The organization of the town- 
ship occurred on the first Monday of April, 
1842, at the home of Johnson King, and on 
this occasion the first election was held, 
there being nine voters present. The first 
road through the township was surveyed 
with a pocket compass, in 1839 or 1840, 
and ran from Bluffton to Jackson township, 
passing to the right of Liberty Center. This 
road was long since abandoned, and its 
course is now marked by cultivated fields. 
The next highway was the present north and 
south road running through Lilierty Cen- 
ter on a section line. Vera Cruz, according 
to the last federal census, had a population 
only one individual short of the two hun- 
dred mark. It is located about seven miles 
southeast of Bluffton. on the other side of 
the river, and has retained some prestige as 
a trading point, though it has declined 
somewhat in population, being not on a line 
of railroad. Its founders were James Hig- 
gins and Christian Sowers and its establish- 
ment dates back to 1848, 'the place being 
known as Newville until about 1870. when 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



29 



the present name was adopted. It was in- 
corporated in 1870. 

Rock Creek townsliip has within its 
confines the httle village of Rockford, the 
postoffice being Barber's Mills, the town 
dating its inception back to 1849, while it 
is most picturesquely situated on the little 
stream which gives title to the township. 
The first settlers in Rock Creek township 
were Solomon Johnson, Benjamin Brown, 
Solomon Sparks and Isaac De\\'itt. who 
here located in 1835, while within the fol- 
lowing two years came William and .Allen 
Redding, Thomas T. Smith, John Zeke. 
David Snyder, William Barton, Thomas 
and Samuel Wallace, ]\Iason Powell. Wil- 
liam Ellingham and Jacob Miller. The 
first election in this township, which at that 
time included the present townships oi 
Union, Liberty, Chester and Jackson, was 
held on the 8th of May, 1839, at the house 
of Benjamin Brown, who served as inspect- 
or and who was also honored with election 
as the first justice of the peace. Another 
writer has spoken of this township as fol- 
lows: "Rock Creek is pre-eminently the 
most improved township in \\'ells county, 
if not in the whole state of Indiana. Nearly 
every resident appears to be a rich landlord. 
and scarcely any one a renter. The road 
running south from the Wabash river 
three miles, along the middle line of the 
township, is a royal highway and deserves 
some fancy name, as the land is high and the 
scenery beautiful." 

In Union township are found the vill- 
ages of Zanesville (a portion of which lies 
in Allen county), Uniondale and Prospect, 
none of which are lacking in attractions. 
Union township was organized in 1847, im- 
mediately after the extinguishing of the 



Indian title to the same, which had been in 
the Miami Indian reservation. The settlers 
in that year were William Rosseau, James 
Edmundson, John Wandel, Joseph Rich, 
Joseph Davis, Milton Davis, E. Bagley and 
Jacob Dewitt. Others who came soon 
afterward were A. Housel, \Mlliam 
Walker, John Felts, William Bell, S. B. Cal- 
ey, Henry Chrismore, Simon Krewson, 
Michael Mason, James Cartwright, L. S. 
Walker and Robert McBride. Joseph Rich 
was the first incumbent of the office of 
justice of the peace. 

Lancaster township was organized in 
1841, as has been previously noted, and 
within its borders as at present constituted 
were made some of the earliest settlements 
in the county. In this township is located 
the town of Murray, wiiich is the postoflice 
name of the old town of Lancaster, where 
was made the first village settlement in the 
county. Near this place Dr. Joseph Knox 
took up his abode in 1829, as the first white 
man to establish a home in the county, as 
has been previously mentioned in this ar- 
ticle. In the connection it has also been 
noted that he and the few other settlers in 
the vicinity fled from the county at the time 
of the Indian troubles culminating in the 
Black Hawk war. The town of Murray 
was laid out October 17, 1839, by Jesse 
Gerhard, and two or more additions have 
been made to the original plat. The town is 
beautifully situated on the north bank of 
the Wabash river, but on account of its 
proximity to the county seat and on the 
score that it has remained without railroad 
facilities, its commercial precedence has not 
kept pace with the advance of years, though 
it is one of the attractive villages of the 
state and the home of worthy and progress- 



30 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ive citizens. The first justice of the peace 
in the township of Lancaster was James 
Dailey, and another who was called to the 
same office shortly afterward was Benjamin 
Brown. 

Chester township was organized March 
I, 1 84 1, when the first election occurred at 
the house of Jonas Jarrett, while among the 
early settlers within its confines may be 
mentioned the following: Henry McCul- 
lick, Newton Putnam, Alpheus T. Stevens, 
Wilson Brown, Thomas Blunt, John Lan- 
caster, Benjamin Starr, Jonas Jarrett, Isaac 
Lancaster, Alexander Walker, John Mc- 
Cullick, J. Brotherton, Levi Phillips, Frank- 
lin Spaulding and James Jordan, all of 
whom came prior to 1840, which year wit- 
nessed the arrival of Samuel and Nathan 
Rice, while prior to 1843 came Joseph H. 
McGrath, Thomas Hulet, Sewell Snow, 
Daniel and Joseph Sells and James Bell. The 
little hamlet of Keystone is located near the 
center of this township, the same having 
been laid out in April. 1872, by an honored 
pioneer of the locality, Luther Twibell. 

So fully is the history of Harrison town- 
ship, as at present constituted, coincident 
with the city of Blufifton, which is located 
near the center of its northern border, that 
further data is scarcely demanded in regard 
to the same. The first settlers within the 
present limits of the township were Charles 
Bennett and Thomas W. \'an Horn, who 
took up their aljode here in 1834, while 
others who came prior to 1840 were as fol- 
lows: Gabriel and John Markley, Robert 
C. Bennett, Sr.. Adam Miller, James Guth- 
rie, Almon Case, John Burgess, Michael 
Myers, A. W. Johnson, Daniel Miller, 
Michael Whitmer, John Studabaker. Amos 
Townsend, C. Chalfant, Nelson Kellogg, 



William Studabaker, John A. Deam and 
William Concannon. As has been previous- 
ly noted, this was one of the original two 
townships into which the county was di- 
vided, the other having been Rock Creek. 
When it was erected, in July, 1837, it com- 
prised its present territory besides that in- 
cluded in Nottingham township and the east 
th.ree-fourths of Lancaster and Jefiferson 
townships. 

Nottingham township, whose oil fields 
are under process of effective development, 
was organized Januarj^ 4. 184 1, in which 
year its first election was held, in the Hite 
cabin, on section 14, fifteen votes being 
polled. The first settler in this township 
was Joseph Blacklege, in 1837, while in the 
following year came John Dawson, Abram 
Stahl, John Nutter, Jacob Warner, Lyman 
Bass, Hezekiah Grimes. Peter Garner, 
Isaac and Edward Haynes, Robert Smith 
and William Nutter. Among the villages 
and hamlets within this township may be 
mentioned Nottingham, Ruth, Petroleum, 
Domestic, Derrick and Phenix. Jackson 
township, to whose title of the "lost" town- 
ship we have already made reference, was 
organized September 4, 1837. and origin- 
ally included the present township of Ches- 
ter. The township has three or more small 
villages and includes some of the finest ag- 
ricultural land in this section of the state, 
as well as stone for building purposes, while 
its oil prospects are also flattering. The 
first permanent settlers came in 1836. be- 
ing Nathaniel Batson. Daniel Jones and Le- 
ander Morrison, while others who located 
here prior to 1840 were Elijah Y. Graves, 
Christopher Miller, Philip Roush, Isaac 
Wright, Andrew Morrison, Richard and N. 
Mclntire, Robert Alexander and Dorsev 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Mason. The first road opened traversed 
the township in a northeasterly direction 
from the northeast corner of section 29, and 
was known as the Bluffton road. Excellent 
drainage is furnished by the Salamonie 
river, which traverses the township with 
good results. 

In conclusion we may say that while the 
work of advancement in Wells county has 
gone successfully forward from those early 
days when was essayed the task of initiat- 
ing the work of reclaiming this now opulent 
and favored section of the state from the 
untrammeled wilds, the particular object of 
this publication is to recite the story of prog- 
ress, not through the specific recounting of 
the stages of such advancement, but rather 
to permit the record to assume symmetry 
and consistency through a consideration of 
the individual careers and accomplishments 
of those worthy men and women through 
whose efiforts the present prosperity and 
precedence have been attained. Wells 



county has sustained within its confines 
men who have been well able to play their 
assigned parts as founders and builders, and 
women of gracious, self-abnegating char- 
acter. That nation is greatest which pro- 
duces the greatest and most manly men and 
faithful women, and the intrinsic safety of 
a community depends not so much upon 
methods as upon that normal development 
from whose deep resources proceeds all that 
is precious and permanent in life. Such a 
result may not conscientiously be contem- 
plated by the actors in the great social 
drama. Pursuing each his personal good by 
exalted means, the result comes as a logical 
sequence. In view of these facts who can 
doubt as to the permanent value of a publi- 
cation of this nature? Let future genera- 
tions learn through its pages the story which 
tells of the upbuilding of Wells county, 
while in the conditions which today obtain 
do we find an earnest of what the future is 
to bring forth. 



INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS OF WELLS COUNTY. 



By HON. HUGH DOUGHERTY. 



To write on the subject of the industrial 
progress of Wells county should be a pleas- 
ant theme and an easy task, for it has been 
wonderful indeed. In these days of en- 
lightenment and progress we are apt to for- 
get what has brought opportunity t(3 us and 
fail to appreciate the effort it has cost those 
who stood the hardships of frontier life, that 
we who follow may enjoy such wonderful 
opportunity to obtain knowledge, luxury and 
wealth. We fear that many of the youth 
whose advantages are now so abundant will 
not attempt a vigorous struggle to honor 
their own existence, as well as the patron 
saints who have put within their reach such 
great possibilities, yet we must not be pessi- 
mistic. 

The best education, which is the only 
sure foundation upon which industrial prog- 
ress can be advanced, is gained while strug- 
gling for a living, but there must be a de- 
termined purpose to acquire this knowledge, 
for we will not only tlirough poverty and 



take too much time and space, besides it is 
lack of means learn industry, frugality and 
independence of character, but will possess 
a sense of manliness and a broader useful- 
ness in our chosen pursuits of life. As a 
rule those in moderate circumstances will 
surpass the sons and daughters of the rich 
in development and more fully enjoy the 
confidence of the world and will avoid fail- 
ure and win success in their plans of opera- 
tion. This, I think, is fully demonstrated 
in the progress of this county since its organ- 
ization, for it was not the rich man's sons 
and daughters who laid the foundation for 
industrial progress, who were the pioneers 
and developed and made this one of the 
greatest counties in the state. 

We are sure the reader will pardon the 
digression if we give a partial list of the 
men whom we found in Wells county open- 
ing the way for civilization when we came to 
adopt this as our future home in 1865. We 
will not be able to name all, as that would 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



33 



not tlie purpose of this article, but a few of 
those who compose the roll of honor were 
Judge Jonathan Garton, Henry Miller, Will- 
iam Studabaker, John Markley, Gabriel 
:Markley, John G. French, Chads Chalfant, 
Jacob Warner. James Bryson, Nathaniel 
Batson, Lemuel Bachelor, Abel Johnson, 
Chas. Rinear, David H. Drummond, Robert 
Roberts, Peter Sowerwine, Samuel Cotton, 
Jacob Haflich, Jacob Miller, John Ogden, 
John W. Davenport, George Gavin, James 
Dai ley, Hiram Hatfield, Joseph Seaman, 
Joseph Rich, James Cartwright, Joseph Gar- 
rett, James Wasson, Martin Gilbert, Jacob 
Stahl, Bowen Hale and many more we 
would be pleased to mention if space would 
permit, all now having gone to their eternal 
reward. 

Of one thing we are sure, no county was 
ever blessed with a more sturdy and honored 
citizenship than has been W'ells county in 
the past, and of which the foregoing names 
were representatives. 

The writer's personal knowledge of 
Wells county dates back only to November 
5, 1865, at which time there was not a gra\el 
road, railroad nor any of the important 
ditches constructed. Bluffton being the 
county seat, was the largest town, having 
then less than eight hundred inhabitants. 
The most important improvements in Blufif- 
ton at that time were three brick business 
blocks. The best and most imposing was 
built by John Studabaker. nnw occupied by 
the "Top," which included the east half of 
Bender & Walmer's store and the building 
adjoining these on the north, and one brick 
building where George F. McFarren's store 
building now stands, which was torn awav 
some years ago to give way to the more spa- 
cious building which he now occupies: the 



third one is now occupied by Cline & Zim- 
mer's hardware store and was built by Drs. 
Melsheimer and McCleery. There were 
scarcely any sidewalks and those were made 
of plank; there were no crossings, so that 
pedestrians had but little use for shoe black- 
ing, as they would not be able to cross the 
street after their shoes were polished without 
losing their lustre. The school houses of the 
town would scarcely accommodate one hun- 
dred students and the seating capacity of all 
the churches would not be more than three 
hundred. The court house, jail and other 
public improvements were on the same line ; 
the private homes were no more pretentious, 
and still the town was ahead of the country 
at that time. 

There were no gravel roads, the farmers 
doing well during the muddy season if they 
averaged getting to town twice a month. 
On this account there was very little read- 
ing matter found in the country homes. Dr. 
B. F. Cummins, who had a large country 
practice, once said to me that he was always 
prepared with paper in which to do up his 
powders, as he could not rely on the people 
to furnish it. For at least three months, 
and some times as much as five months, in 
the year it was impossible for farmers to get 
to town with their wagons, and in order to 
get over the corduroy roads and through the 
mud they were frequently to be found with 
a yoke of oxen or two horses hitched to the 
front wheels of a wagon, with a load of but 
two bags of wheat, the toilsome trip being 
necessary for the purpose of having the lat- 
ter ground into flour for family use. 

The main outlet for trade was Fort 
Wayne. There had been, several years pre- 
vious, a plank road built from Fort Wayne 
to Blufifton, but the planks had become worn 



34 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



out and in many places had broken through, 
which made it impossible for heavy freight 
to be hauled in a wagon, so when snow came 
in the winter, with good sleighing, all the 
teamsters in and about the to\\'n were em- 
ployed to haul the produce and provisions 
to the market. A hack made the trip one 
way each day to Fort Wayne and return. It 
usually had four horses, though in the mud- 
dy season of the year they were unable to 
pull the hack and its passengers, so that very 
often the latter were compelled to get out 
and walk a good portion of the way. The 
writer paid two dollars for his hack fare 
from Fort Wayne to Blufifton on his first trip 
here, which reduced his total wealth to less 
than four dollars. After leaving Fort 
Wayne and driving about seven miles, we 
found the road so bad that the passengers 
found it more comfortable and speedy to 
walk. We would not have complained of 
this, if we had not been compelled to assist 
in prying out the hack on several occasions. 
This trip was made in April with the pur- 
pose in view of taking a view of the country, 
but the writer soon decided not to remain; 
later on, however, in the following autumn 
he returned to stay. 

This condition of roads and transpor- 
tation improved but little until the spring 
of 1868, when John Studabaker received a 
letter from D. T. Haines, of Muncie. saying 
there was a chance to get a railroad from 
Fort Wayne to Muncie. and thereupon Mr. 
Studabaker promptly joined Mr. Haines 
and Louis Worthington, of Cincinnati, at 
the Rockhill House, Fort Wayne, where a 
number of gentlemen from that city met 
them and at the conference it was proposed 
to construct the road if Wells county would 
contribute one hundred thousand dollars to 



the enterprise and if responsible private citi- 
zens would guarantee this amount by a bond 
to be executed by them therefor. Public 
sentiment was strong enough to have voted 
a donation to this amount by the county, 
but there was no statute authorizing the vote 
or an appropriation for railroad purposes, so 
there was no other way to do but to create 
a sentiment strong enough to induce the 
county commissioners to appropriate the 
money without regard to existing laws. 
With that indomitable will and energy which 
has made John Studabaker's business life 
such a success, he proposed that the bond 
should be signed by four hundred citizens, 
all real estate owners, he first putting his 
name to the bond. Then a canvass was 
made of the county, meetings held and 
speeches made, until the four hundred free- 
holders" names were secured. Immediately 
following this Mr. Studabaker was made a 
director of the railroad. The contract was 
let to Byrd, Sturgis & Ney. of Fort Wayne, 
and the work was commenced and prog- 
ressed for three months. The desire on the 
part of the people of Blufifton to have the 
road completed at an early date caused fre- 
quent incjuiries to be made as to the progress, 
when it was found that the contractors were 
not paying their hands, nor for the material, 
but that each member of the firm had re- 
ceived the pay for the monthly estimate and 
kept the money. The writer was sent by 
Mr. Studabaker to see what could be done 
to hurry the work along, when he accident- 
all\' overheard a conversation that divulged 
the fact that the Junction Railroad, 
of which Louis Worthington was the 
president, and which was supposed to 
be furnishing the money to build our 
railroad, was in financial trouble. When 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



35 



this was reported to Mr. Studabaker he 
called Mr. Worthington, the president of 
the road, and a number of directors to Fort 
Wayne and at that conference it was decided 
to take the work away from the contractors 
and put it in the hands of a receiver and if 
an}- profits were made they were to go to the 
contractors. A number of citizens were dis- 
cussed as to who should take charge of the 
work and put it through with as much haste 
as posible, when Mr. Studabaker proposed 
the writer, who was then twenty-four years 
old. Some objections to him were made 
on account of his age. but with ]Mr. Studa- 
baker's keen foresight he was determined to 
ha\-e control of the construction so that it 
might be put through as rapidly as possible 
and before any failure might occur with the 
Junction Railroad, so he proposed that the 
receiver should give a one-hundred-thous- 
and-dollar bond, which was- promptly given 
by Mr. Studabaker signing the bond, with 
Jesse L. Williams, of Fort Wayne, and oth- 
er gentlemen. He brought it to Bluffton for 
the signature of the principal and on the 
next day the writer took charge of the enter- 
prise, hiring all labor, buying the material 
and securing the right of way. Among the 
first men hired to hew ties was Augustus N. 
]\Iartin, who afterwards was elected reporter 
of the supreme court and was also represent- 
ative in congress three times from this dis- 
trict. There was much annoyance in getting 
the right of way, because of many unfulfilled 
promises made by the men who undertook 
to build this railroad years prior to this time. 
One of the instances that now comes to our 
mind occurred on the farm of George F. 
Burgan. through which the road ran a mile 
north of Bluffton. He was \-erv agreeable 
as to the question of anirmnt and we agreed 



with him what he was to have and told him 
to let the men go to work and we would be 
out and pay him next day. This conversa- 
tion was in the yard and he immediately 
stepped into the house, took down his rifle 
and said, "You will pay me now or the first 
man that steps on my land will be shot," 
so we were compelled to return to Bluffton 
at once and obtain the money to pay him, for 
the men were there ready to go to work. 
From that time on the road had no better 
friend than Mr. Burgan. We had several 
law suits for rights of way, in which we 
found David Colerick, of Fort Wayne, a 
very able law}-er. always on the opposite 
side. After we had the right of wav through 
the farms Colerick came to us and asked 
that there might be a cattle guard put in so 
that a crossing could be made for a client of 
his. that the latter might drive his stock 
fron-i one side of the farm to the other. We 
said to him, ",Mr. Colerick, we do not con- 
sider you a friend of the road, therefore do 
not believe we can grant your request in be- 
half of your client." He yelled out at the 
top of his voice, "Friend! I am no man's 
I friend, nor road either; I never had but one 
friend myself and he d — d nigh ruined n-ie." 
His client did not get the crossing. 

The intimation we had that the Junction 
Railroad and Louis Worthington, the presi- 
dent, were in financial straits caused great 
fears that the road ne\-er could be completed 
for lack of money, so it was agreed that the 
Junction Railroad would secure the iron and 
we would do the work and furnish the ties 
and bridges to complete the work to Blufifton 
and hold the one-hundred-thousand-dollar 
citizens' bond as security for what monev we 
had advanced and would ad\-ancc until the 
road was completed to Bluffton. The condi- 



36 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tion of the bond was that tlie one hundred 
tliousand dollars would be due whenever a 
train of cars would have run over the road 
from the city of Fort Wayne into the town 
of Bluffton, where Market street would cross 
the railroad. This made it extremely impor- 
tant that the road be completed to Market 
street, Bluffton, before November 30. 1869. 
As the time drew near for the completion of 
the road there had to be a large number of 
men and teams put on the grade and in the 
woods making ties and getting out timber, 
and the last month we had three hundred 
names on the pay roll, which required over 
thirty thousand dollars. On November 10, 
1869, twenty days before the time was up, 
we had run a train from Fort Wayne to 
Market street, Bluffton. which made the citi- 
zens' bond binding and worth one hundred 
thousand dollars. Then came the great jolli- 
fication, large numbers of people coming in 
from all parts of the county with well filled 
baskets. A jolly time was had. 

Up to this time there had been but one 
engine on the road, it being under the care 
of the writer, and the contractors, Byrd, 
Sturgis & Ney, refusing to surrender the 
liossession of the road to tlie Junction Rail- 
road until they were settled with fitr their 
profits. The Junction road bribed the fire- 
man to run away with the engine. While 
the engineer was temporarily off his engine 
at Fort Wayne, the fireman cut loose and 
started it down the Pennsylvania track to 
Lima with all speed possible. This created 
great excitement at Bluffton and the question 
then arose in the minds of the wiseacres 
whether from a legal standpoint we had a 
railroad or not and it was a mooted ques- 
tion as to whether the one-hundred-thous- 
and-dollar citizens' bond could be collected, 



but it was only a few days until a train of 
cars was placed on the road. 

^Vhile Mr. Studabaker and the writer 
were delighted to have completed the road 
in time to leave them secure for what had 
been advanced, yet there was great trouble 
ahead. About fifty thousand dollars of the 
money which had been appropriated by the 
county commissioners to the railroad had 
been paid in by tax payers to the county 
treasurer, he having deposited it in our bank. 
We in turn deposited it in the Central Na- 
tional Bank of Cincinnati, but when we made 
the last payment to the laborers and for the 
material and our bank undertook to draw the 
money from the Central National Bank of 
Cincinnati, we were told that Louis Worth- 
ington had already drawn the money, claim- 
ing it due them as soon as the railroad 
reached Market street, Bluffton. After 
spending two days making every effort to get 
them to give up the money peacefully we em- 
ployed lawyers with the intention to force 
them to pay us the money, for the reason 
that we had never given the Central Na- 
tional Bank any authority to pay Mr. 
Worthington the money, and if they had ad- 
vanced it to him on his word they must rely 
on that for their pay. This settled one-half 
of the citizens' lx)nd. The other half was 
settled so far as it could be done by the coun- 
ty commissioners by their ordering the 
county auditor to issue county orders cover- 
ing the other fifty thousand dollars, which 
was to be paid out of money as soon as col- 
lected for that purpose. The county com- 
missioners appointed Mr. John Studabaker 
trustee to take charge of these county orders, 
but Hon. Newton Burwell, who had just 
held a term in the lower house of the legis- 
lature and was quite active in politics, raised 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



37 



an objection to Mr. Studabaker being made 
trustee, because of his being a Republican. 
He had but Httle trouble in convincing the 
county commissioners that Mr. Studabaker 
could not be trusted with these county orders 
on account of his politics, this being made es- 
pecially easy because of there having been 
quite a 'contest over Manuel Popejoy, who 
was nominated as one of the commissioners 
on the Democratic ticket. However, when 
the committee appointed by the four hun- 
dred on the citizens' bond called on Mr. 
Popejoy and asked what he would do in 
regard to pledging himself to appropriate 
the money for the railroad, his reply was, 
"If the law warrants such an appropriation 
and I am elected I will vote for it." The 
signers of the bond knew there was no law 
authorizing a levy for railroad purposes, so 
they set about to defeat him and did so by 
electing Louis Prilliman. a Republican. 
Thus Mr. Burwell's objection to Mr. Studa- 
baker on account of his politics was accepted 
by the commissioners as being sufficient to 
remove him, and it was proposed that the 
writer, whose politics was regular, be put in 
his place, and he was appointed. 

This only increased trouble for the 
writer, as the county orders were then placed 
in his hands and he started to Cincinnati to 
exchange them for the citizens' bond. He 
found it in the hands of a pork packer named 
Joseph Rawson, who had advanced Mr. 
Worthington the money on the last half 
of the bond, this being the money that paid 
for the railroad iron. Although we offered 
to sell them at ninety cents on the dollar, 
they had no attraction for Mr. Rawson and 
he promptly declined to take anything but 
cash, so we returned from Cincinnati with 
a heavy heart, feeling it would be from one 



to two years at least before the orders could 
be paid. The citizens' bond was now due, as 
the railroad had already reached Market 
street, Bluffton. When we reached Bluffton 
it was a late hour in the night and we found 
Amos Townsend walking up and down the 
street waiting for us and said he had word 
that the taxpayers in the northern part of 
the county would enjoin us from disposing 
of the orders, if they were able to procure 
legal service on us. 

We called on Mr. Studabaker and de- 
cided that there was only one thing for us 
to do and that was to get out of the reach 
of the officers and make some disposition of 
the orders. We concluded it was not safe 
to wait for a train the next morning and, 
after some deliberation, hitched up and went 
to Fort Wayne in a private rig. If we were 
unable to sell the orders in Fort Wayne we 
must keep on going, even to New York if 
necessary, until they were disposed of. We 
reached Fort Wayne a little before daylight. 
The writer, having traveled several nights 
and being much worried, was directed to go 
to bed until called by Mr. Studabaker. The 
next morning about nine o'clock we were 
directed to go to the First National Bank of 
Fort Wayne, of which J. D. Nuttman was 
president, and to take whatever paper he of- 
fered in exchange for the orders, but we 
were to go through the form of making a 
sale by first offering at par and when he of- 
fered ninety cents to agree to take it. We 
went through the performance and Mr. 
Nuttman handed over a paper together with 
two letters, one written to the auditor 
and one to the treasurer of Wells county. 

As we were so nearly exhausted, Mr. 
Studabaker sent us home on train and he 
drove back. On our way home we opened 



38 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



the papers and found a certificate of deposit 
from Nuttman calling for the amount of the 
face of the orders, less ten per cent, to be 
paid when the orders were paid. When we 
got home we delivered one letter to W. H. 
Deam. treasurer, and one to S. M. Dailey, 
auditor. They opened the letters, which 
said that the First National Bank of Fort 
W'ayne had bought the orders and would 
expect payment for them as soon as the 
money could be collected. Mr. Dailey, the 
auditor, in a very excited way, began to an- 
nounce to every one he met that the orders 
were sold and the money was in the Ex- 
change Bank of John Studabaker & Com- 
pany, ready to pay ofif the citizens' bond, all 
of which was glad news to every one who 
had signed the bond; but this was but the 
beginning of our troubles. 

In the first place, the paper held against 
the First National Bank of Fort Wayne 
would cause us to meet with a loss of ten per 
cent, on the orders and the six per cent, they 
would draw until they were paid, so we 
could not stand that staring us in the face 
and insisted upon Mr. Studabaker returning 
to Fort Wayne at once and exchange the 
certificate we had for the orders given Nutt- 
man. \Mien we approached Nuttman, ask- 
ing what his understanding about the matter 
was, he very promptly said that he of course 
expected the ten per cent, and interest on 
the orders for his trouble in the matter. A 
^•ery hot controversy ensued, but finally 
Xuttman agreed to settle for $300, to give 
up the orders and take back his certificate, 
which amount was paid by Mr. Studabaker. 
The certificate of deposit required twenty- 
eight dollars in government stamps, which 
made a loss of three hundred and twenty- 
eight dollars to start with, but that was bet- 



ter than ten thousand dollars or more, as it 
would have been had we gone on with the 
arrangement first made. 

But our troubles did not stop here; in 
fact, the clouds grew darker and darker un- 
til the writer made up his mind that disaster 
must follow, for his position before the pub- 
lic was a false one and especially interesting 
to those who were on the citizens' bond and 
directly interested in the matter, as having 
possession of the money. Yet he did not 
make any attempt to pay off the bond and 
return it to the original signers, as instead 
of having the money we had those spurious 
orders which were not worth anything from 
a legal standpoint. 

These conditions continued for about 
three days, when the public began to get very 
uneasy and restless because we did not pro- 
ceed to pay ofif the bond. The excuse was of- 
fered that we were sick, worn out and must 
rest, and thereupon a committee was ap- 
pointed to take our place to redeem the bond. 
Then we were compelled to take some ac- 
tion, so the writer finally concluded that he 
would insist upon Mr. Studabaker signing 
his note to cover the amount of money which 
the commissioners had authorized the orders 
to be sold for and borrow the money out 
of our own bank to pay for the purchase of 
said orders, said fund to be reimbursed as 
the money was paid into the treasury. The 
public in the meantime were led to believe 
that the orders were owned and sent by 
Nuttman for collection. 

When the writer reached this conclu- 
sion he found Mr. Studabaker in the woods 
and submitted to him his plan. At first he 
promptly declined to sign the paper, but up- 
on reflection he agreed to go to the bank and 
further discuss the matter and on our wav 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



39 



up he was told that Captain Peter Studa- 
baker, who was a partner in the bank at that 
time, must not know what we were doing, 
that the fewer the people were who knew of 
it the less danger there would be of expos- 
ure if we got into court. It was finally 
agreed that we should give our note for the 
whole amount, which was nearly fifty 
thousand dollars, with John Studabaker as 
surety. When we reached the bank we 
made out the note, both signed it and pre- 
sented it to Captain Studabaker and told him 
to give us such exchange as could be used 
in Cincinnati to cover it. Then came a fierce 
demand to know what this meant. We de- 
clined to tell him and finally he consented 
and made out the papers. The writer went 
to Cincinnati, paid off the bond and brought 
it back and delivered it over to Mr. Dailey, 
the auditor, when there was a second jolli- 
fication. Ever^rbody was light hearted but 
the writer, who knew we owed fifty thous- 
and dollars with no security except county 
orders which had been issued without war- 
rant of law. and these were worthless from 
a legal standpoint. 

At that time there were a large number 
of orders out for bridges and the bounty for 
war purposes, which were being taken up 
by the treasurer for taxes. We made ar- 
rangements with the treasurer to retain all 
orders he took in which were authorized by 
law and exchange them for our railroad 
orders, taking him into the secret of the 
whole transaction, so that within a year we 
practically had them all taken up.. By this 
time our first railroad was completed to 
Bluffton and it was our time to rejoice, as 
we had escaped a calamity that might have 
been our destruction, for it is hardly to be ex- 
pected that the public would have ever taken 



care of us, even though the building of the 
railroad was worth to the town and county 
ten times the one hundred thousand dollars. 
Mr. Studabaker will never get too much 
praise for his courage and energy spent in 
behalf of the public in securing the first rail- 
road for Bluffton. 

The building of the second road, running- 
east and west through Bluffton, had been 
agitated from time to time for a number of 
years. At times a line was proposed from 
Lima to Logansport. at other times from 
Van Wert in a southwesterly direction and 
thence west through Crawfordsville, but fin- 
ally the narrow gauge fever struck the coun- 
try and Joe Boehmr and Dr. Evans, of Del- 
phos, Ohio, came along and proposed to 
build a road from that point through Bluff- 
ton west. At this time townships were au- 
thorized to vote aid which was done by Har- 
rison, Lancaster and Liberty townships. 
James Crosbie and the writer were given the 
contract to build the road from Bluffton to 
Warren. The iron covering that point of 
the road was to be furnished by the com- 
pany. The grade was constructed and the 
iron furnished, but before it was delivered 
it was necessary to have the officers of the 
company sign a note covering seven thous- 
and dollars for the iron. The note was 
signed by Joseph Boehmr, Dr. Evans, W. J. 
Craig and the writer. Mr. Crosbie and the 
writer were given notes covering their 
contract, executed by the citizens of 
Warren and payable when the road 
was completed to that place. These 
were paid promptly, but the se\'en 
thousand dollars was unprovided for 
and after considerable manipulation the 
road was sold and the seven thousand dol- 
lars paid by the succeeding company, so that 



40 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Bluffton had the second railroad. From this 
small start it has since been converted into 
a standard gauge, with first-class day 
coaches and sleepers and with through 
trains from Toledo to St. Louis. It is now a 
credit to the city as .well as the county and of 
great service to the people. 

The building of the narrow gauge road 
without capital caused the promoters to 
make many promises they could not fulfill 
and they became quite unpopular. When the 
road proposed to locate the shops here, the 
proposition was turned down by a majority 
of thirty-seven in Harrison township. This 
was a misfortune to the citizens of Bluffton, 
but later on, when the Erie road proposed to 
come to Blufifton, they ofifered to give Bluff- 
ton the road for eighty thousand dollars, 
but they would not cross the river. Those 
who were active in railroad building 
up to that time having become discour- 
aged by the loss of the narrow gauge shops, 
took no part in it and the promoters of this 
enterprise were not aggressive enough to ac- 
complish their purpose, so the road was lost. 
Only second as a misfortune to the loss of 
this railroad is the loss of the Dayton, 
Union & Huntington road, which is destined 
to be built through Montpelier, building up 
that city to our detriment. 

The next thing in the way of public im- 
provement in facilitating travel was in build- 
ing gravel roads. Interest began to spring 
up and it was finally decided to go to Rock 
Creek Center and have a meeting in the inter- 
est of such roads. W. B. Nimmons, an en- 
thusiastic promoter of this enterprise, hired 
a band to attend a meeting at Rock Creek 
Center in the interest of the proposed im- 
provements, but the presence of the band en- 
raged the people, doing more harm than 



good, because they conceived the idea that 
Blufifton was trying to take them by storm. 
A little later on the Fort Wayne gravel road, 
extending from the county seat to a point 
three miles north, came up before the people 
for consideration, when Mr. Greenfield said 
he would carry the petition around and get 
signers if he had a guarantee that the road 
would be built. We provided the guarantee 
satisfactory to him and he secured the num- 
ber of signers necessary and the building 
of the road was contracted to Simon Bickle. 
About the same time a petition was circu- 
lated and signed by a sufficient number for 
a road extending from Blufifton to Barbers 
Mills, which road was built by James Cros- 
bie, Sr. 

A little later on a road known as the 
Salamonie, running from Blufifton through 
Mt. Zion to the south line of the county, was 
built by D. D. Studabaker & Company. 
These roads were more expensive than those 
later on, as much more was required of the 
contractors and the contractor knew less 
about building them, but since that time 
there is scarcely a section line road in the 
county that is not graveled, there now being 
about three hundred miles of gravel road 
in the county 

All the main ditches, which cost many 
hundred thousand dollars, have been made 
until there is no part of Wells county that is 
not thoroughly drained. It has been more 
difficult to construct the ditches entirely sat- 
isfactory to the farmers than any other im- 
provement that has been made. There was 
much dissatisfaction both with Little River 
and Rock Creek ditches, which were the larg- 
est artificial drains in the county, but the 
people along these ditches have learned that 
their best soil is in the bottoms and would 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



not now exchange their ditches for the 
money paid. 

In our pubHc buildings we have a court 
house that is equal to any of the counties 
around us and one which was honestly built. 
A self-constituted committee of citizens 
gave the matter attention during the con- 
struction of the court house and saw to it 
that the people of the county got value re- 
ceived for the money they paid out. The 
jail is modern and first-class, the county in- 
firmary and orphans' home are equal to any 
in this part of the country. Our school 
buildings are ample to take care of one thou- 
sand two hundred pupils, being located in 
three parts of the city where they are con- 
venient and under the eye of the parents. 

Our manufacturing interests have grown 
from one blacksmith shop, owned by Sam 
Jones, and one repair and blacksmith shop, 
owned by Michael Karns, altogether em- 
ploying six men, to enterprises employing 
nearly six hundred men. The largest is the 
Red Cross Manufacturing Company, which 
makes wind mills, pumps and tower tanks, 
shipping much of their products to North 
and South America, Australia and New Zea- 
land. The Grimes Foundry and Machine 
Shops make a specialty of the Mascot pump- 
ing powder, which is used in the oil fields for 
operating large oil leases. The Blufifton 
Manufacturing Company, the oldest con- 
cern in the world for manufacturing wash- 
ing machines, ship its goods all over the 
United States, as well as Europe. The Zero 
Mitten Manufacturing Company, employing 
nearly one hundred girls, makes mittens and 
gloves which are sold extensively in this 
country as well as in Canada. The BlufY- 
ton Folding Chair Works manufactures 
chairs, camp stools, lawn swings, etc.^ the 



orders for which come from all parts o-f the 
country. In addition to these are the Aurora 
Fire Clay Company, the Indiana Scale Truck 
Company and the Bluffton Hoop Company, 
F. P. Adams Slackbarrel and Heading Fac- 
tory, Smith & Bell Saw Mill, J. M. Buck 
Handle Factory, the Bluffton Overall Com- 
pany, three fiouring mills, the Mercer Lum- 
ber Company and a number of cigar factor- 
ies, all of which give steady employment to 
the laborers of the city. 

In the produce line, from the little ware- 
house where Studabaker, Sale & Company's 
office now is, which held the grain and seed 
for the season, waiting for good roads to al- 
low it to be hauled to Fort Wayne, we have 
the Studabaker, Sale & Company's eleva- 
tors, with a capacity sufficient to fill the 
old warehouse in one day. In addition to 
this the H. C. Arnold elevator and the S. 
Tudor & Company, packers and produce 
shippers, carrying on a business of great 
magnitude. These three produce firms fre- 
quently check out more money from the 
banks of Blufifton in one day than con- 
stituted the entire deposits and capital of the 
bank in the early days. At that time one 
bank, with total deposits of eighteen thous- 
and dollars and fifty thousand dollars cap- 
ital, was more than ample to take care of the 
business of the town and county. It is now 
succeeded by two banks with a capital and 
surplus of two and fifty thousand dollars 
and one million three hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars deposits. 

The dry goods merchants, then Messrs. 
Arnold, Bliss & Company, L. L. Holmes 
and S. Oppenheim, and Nathaniel Schles- 
singer, the only clothier, ha\e been 
succeeded by four dry goods stores, 
anv one of which will do as much 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



business per annum as all three of the 
former stores, besides which are four large 
clothing stores, any one of which sells more 
goods in three months than were sold by the 
one former clothing store in a year. There 
are now three large hardware stores, in place 
of the one which was owned by Henry Cook. 
We also have at the present time four large 
furniture stores and thre^ undertaking estab- 
lishments. 

The grocery business was represented by 
Sebastian Keeley and J. E. White. It is now 
represented by thirteen groceries, with every 
variety and quality of goods and having an 
excellent trade, though these are no more 
than adequate to supply the wants of the peo- 
ple. There are now five churches, with a 
combined seating capacity of four thousand. 
The development of oil has been a means of 
enriching the farmers wonderfully in the 
southern part of the county, among the most 
prominent operators being W. A. Kunkel, 
Brown & Long, James McCormick, L. C. 
Davenport. 

Bluffton, the county seat of Wells coun- 
ty, is known throughout the entire country 
as a most beautiful city of five thousand in- 
habitants, with miles of asphalt, brick and 
macadam streets, matched with cement 
walks on either side, with its shade trees 
and lawns, beautiful and cozy residences, 
both large and small, as a background for the 
picture. Still the city is not ahead of the 
county, with its three hundred miles of grav- 
el roads that ramifv it. The farms are well 



drained and in a fine state of cultivation, 
yielding excellent crops, in abundance com- 
paring favorably with the very l)est counties 
of Indiana. 

It is not, however, to be supposed that 
the triumphs of Wells county in these mat- 
ters have been achieved without effort, for in 
the care and attention given to the successful 
cultivation of the soil the farmers have la- 
bored strenuously for many years, until in- 
genuity and integrity have become their 
most distinguished characteristics. 

When one has comprehended all that this 
people have done for themselves we are sure 
it is neither natural or reasonable to grudge 
them the success that has attended their ef- 
forts, and yet the common complaint is that 
the farm and farm life are not appreciated by 
our people, but that they long for a more 
elegant pursuit. The ways and fashions of 
the city are not in the line of happiness and 
comfort, for the farmer has the most sacred 
and natural occupation and ought to find life 
sweeter than any other, for he alone, strict- 
ly speaking, has a home. He writes his his- 
tory upon his field ; his friends are his cattle, 
his team, his dog, his trees; his satisfaction 
is in his growing crops and his improved 
fields ; his intimates are the bird and beast ; 
he co-operates with the cloud, the sun and 
the season ; heat, wind, rain and frost, all 
humble him, teaching him patience and rev- 
erence, and restore the proper tone to his 
system, and radiate his virtues after his day's 
work is done. 



AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS IN WELLS COUNTY. 



Bt EVAN T. CHALPANT. 



Wells county is and, so far as we are 
able to see, must always be an agricultural 
district. There is neither coal nor iron here, 
nor water power to make a manufacturing 
district of it. The grand forests of oak, hick- 
ory, ash, beech, walnut, maple, elm, cotton- 
wood and other varieties of timber which 
once covered our county, and which took 
centuries to grow, are now nearly gone. So 
our lumber industries are rapidly drawing 
to a close. There are no rare clays or min- 
erals to bring manufacturing industries into 
our midst. In all these respects our county 
seems unfortunate; and yet we think these 
very deficiencies will prove a great blessing 
to our people. No manufacturing section 
can also be a successful agricultural section. 
The conditions that make the one work 
against the success of the other. Not hav- 
ing our attention divided between agricul- 
ture and manufacturing, we can concentrate 
all our energies, all our skill and all our 
wealth to make a success of the former. 

Nature has blessed om^ county with con- 
ditions that will ever make it a successful 
and wealthy agricultural district. Our cli- 
mate is healthful and favorable to agricul- 
ture. There is sufficient moisture and 



warmth to grow bountiful crops. The win- 
ters are neither long nor severe ; the summers 
are long and pleasant and give crops ample 
time to mature. Frosts come early enough 
to cause corn and other late growing crops 
to ripen and cure out to save well. Spring 
opens up early enough to give ample time for 
spring seeding. The soil is for the most 
part a rich clay loam, underlaid by from 
twenty to one hundred feet of clay subsoil, 
which constitutes the best farm land on 
earth. The surface is generally level, with 
just enough slope to give good drainage, but 
not to cause the surface to wash into gullies. 
The land is free from rocks and stones, so 
that it is easily farmed. A ridge of rolling 
lands crosses our county from northwest to 
southeast, that makes excellent grazing land, 
giving a grand opportunity for stock raising 
and dairying. The level lands are also well 
adapted to the same branch of agriculture. 
The great depth of soil between the surface 
and the rock having been formed by the gla- 
cial drift and so being equally rich through- 
out its depth in the mineral plant foods, 
makes it impossible to ever exhaust this kind 
of plant food. As the gases that help to 
, form the plants comes from the air, that 



44 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



source of plant food is also inexhaustible. 
The earth above the rock contains many 
gravel beds filled with excellent water, and 
the rock also contains an abundance, so the 
county is liberally supplied with this very 
necessary material. Our location with ref- 
erence to the markets and our shipping fa- 
cilities are all that could be desired, so there 
is no reason why Wells county should not 
always be a great and wealthy agricultural 
district. 

The lastest Indiana agricultural statis- 
tics for our county show that it is already 
a great agricultural district. It gives the 
amount of wheat raised in one year as 211,- 
896 bushels, being an average of 9 
bushels per acre; 1,909,080 bushels of 
corn, an average of 45 bushels per acre; 
681,398 bushels of oats, an average of 46 
1-2 bushels per acre; 12,270 bushels of 
rye, an average of 26 1-2 bushels per acre; 
29,021 tons of timothy hay and 21,415 tons 
of clover hay, the former yielding i 1-2 tons 
per acre and the latter i 3-4 tons; 40.680 
bushels of Irish potatoes and 1,540 bushels 
of sweet potatoes, yielding no bushels of 
the latter and 56 1-2 bushels of the former 
to the acre. Of horses the same statistics 
give us 7,954 head and loi head of mules; 
14,229 head of cattle, 40,330 head of hogs, 
and 20,532 sheep and lambs. Milk pro- 
duced equalled 2,899,995 gallons and butter 
620,981 pounds; 12,825 dozen chickens 
gave 693,459 dozen eggs. These statistics 
show only a part of the i)roductions of our 
county for one year. The fruit and vege- 
tables, excepting i)otatoes, are not men- 
tioned, nor such crops as clover and timothy 
seed, buckwheat, soy beans, Canada field 
peas, corn stover and some others of which 
our county produces an abundance. While 



the amounts of the various animals and 
crops given show an enormous total and a 
great diversity in kinds and varieties that 
can be successfully grown and produced in 
our county, yet they by no means show the 
limit of the amounts that our fine climate 
and rich soil are able to produce. Much of 
our land is not yet under cultivation, and 
that which is is capable of doubling and 
trebling the amounts mnv jiroduced. For 
instance, in the report (juotcd wheat is given 
as averaging only 9 bushels per acre, while 
a yield of from 30 to 40 bushels is often 
grown by individual farmers. The same 
kind of farming that produces these latter 
amounts if followed by all the farmers 
would raise the average amount of wheat 
produced per acre to several times 9 
bushels. So with corn, many farmers raise 
from 90 to 100 bushels jier acre, or double 
what the whole county averages. The same 
ratio of increase could by good farming and 
management be continued throughout the 
whole list of crops and farm animals and 
animal products. At present our farmers 
try to manage too many acres for the 
amount of help they have. The results are 
crops not thoroughly cultivated and man- 
aged and many small unprofitable yields. If 
only half the number of acres received the 
same amount of work and care they would 
yield as many bushels as the larger num- 
ber of acres but half cared for yield. 

The conditions of the farmers and the 
methods of farming in Wells county have 
greatly changed and improved in the last 
quarter of a century. When the writer 
came to this county from the Pennsylvania 
hills, in the spring of 1867, the country was 
new, the land but partly cleared and the 
fields were full of stumps and roots. But 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



45 



little ditching had been done; swamps and 
\vet land abounded on all sides and the air 
was loaded with malaria and mosquitoes. 
The "chills" and fever were escaped by but 
few every summer. Most of the families 
then lived in log houses of but one or two 
rooms. For six months of the }'ear the 
roads were almost impassible and they were 
never very good. A buggy or a carriage 
was a great curiosity and as rare as 
automobiles are today. Young men and 
women rode out together on horseback or 
went afoot. People either walked to 
church or went horseback or in the farm 
wagons. In those days the principal food 
was corn and pork. But little wheat was 
raised and fruit was still scarce. But few 
homes could boast of a sewing machine, a 
washing machine, an organ or a piano. The 
floors were usually bare Ixsards and the 
furniture of the cheapest sorts. The farm- 
er then cut his grass with a scythe, raked 
his hay by hand and pitched it all by hand. 
He cut his grain with the cradle and raked 
and bound it by hand. The threshing ma- 
chines were run by horse power. There 
were no riding plows, cultivators, harrows 
nor other riding tools of which we now have 
such a variety. Hard toil was the rule in 
all the work on the farm. There were no 
railroads, telegraph lines nor telephones in 
the county in those days. The stock was of 
poor varieties, or breeds, or rather of no 
jjarticular breeds. Hogs had to run in the 
woods till nearly or quite two years old be- 
fore they could be fattened. When stock was 
sold it had to be driven to Ft. Wayne either 
by the owner or buyer. Grain sold bad also 
to be hauled there for sale. It would seem 
impossible for people to enjoy life under 
such conditions: but thev did, and we can 



look back to those days and count over 
many blessings we received and many pleas- 
ures we enjoyed. How much more, then, 
ought we to enjoy life now and how thank- . 
ful we ought to be for the many blessings 
and privileges we now enjoy. Compared 
with those early days, the farmers in Wells 
county live like kings and queens today. 
We have comforts and privileges and pleas- 
ures innumerable. If the improvement con- 
tinues another quarter of a century as it has 
the past quarter or more, there surely will 
be nothing further to wish for this side of 
heaven. The farmers of Wells county now 
live in large, fine frame or brick dwellings. 
They drive to town or elsewhere in fine car- 
riages over gravel roads, or they go on the 
cars, and they soon will be riding on inter- 
urban cars, as two or three roads are now be- 
ing constructed that will pass through our 
count}-. They have telephones connecting 
them with their neighbors and with the 
cities. They have their mail delivered daily 
at their doors and now take the daily papers 
and many nice magazines and papers 
they seldom saw twenty-five }-ears ago. 
Every farmer's boy now has his horse and 
buggy and his bicycle. The farmer's daugh- 
ters also have their bicycles and they ride in 
the finest rubber-tired buggies in the world. 
In the homes are found organs, pianos, sew- 
ing machines, washing machines, fine 
furniture and carpets and rugs. Ele- 
gant stoves and ranges have taken 
the place of the old fireplace. Wind pumps 
now draw the water for the home and for 
the stock. The swamps have been drained, 
the land cleared, and the stumps gone. The 
climate is now healthful, and chills and ague 
unknown. The farmer now rides, often un- 
der a sunshade, while he plows his ground. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



sows or plants his grain and while he culti- 
vates and harvests his crops. Grass is now 
cut with a machine, stirred with a machine, 
raked, loaded on the wagons and unloaded, 
all by machines run by horse power. Grain- 
is cut and bound by machinery and threshed 
by a steam-running machine that feeds it- 
self, stacks the straw and measures and 
sacks the grain. Corn is now being cut by 
machinery that shocks it and it is husked 
by machinery, too. and the fodder shredded 
and put into the mow. The faithful horses 
do almost all the farm work now and do it 
easily, too. Steam and gasoline engines 
are fast taking the work off from the horses 
also, and we predict that the farmers' horses 
in our agricultural district a quarter of a 
century hence will have as easy a time of it 
as the farmer has today. Electricity and 
gasoline will then do most all the hard work 
and do it quickly and cheaply, too. Fruit 
of many kinds is now raised here in abund- 
ance and the farmers' bill of fare nowadays 
is varied, abundant, wholesome and palat- 
able as heart could desire. The farm stock 
in our county has been greatly improved 
also in the past quarter of a century. It 
seems hardly possible to ever grow finer 
hogs, cattle, sheep or horses than are now- 
found on the majority of Wells county 
farms. Hogs especially have been greatly 
improved until now one seldom sees any 
but good breeds on om- farms. Instead ot 
driving stock to Ft. Wayne, now it is usual- 
ly hauled but few miles at most to the stock 
yards and there shipped to market. Grain 
elevators are now to be found in various 
places in our county, making it an easy mat- 
ter for the farmer to dispose of his surplus. 
While nearly all kinds of fruit grown in 
the temperate zone will grow and do well in 



our county, yet our climate and soil are bet- 
ter adapted to grain and grass than to fruit 
raising; so we find the former industry pre- 
dominating here. Als there is a profit to be 
made in feeding grain and grass to farm an- 
imals, farmers are raising more stock and 
selling less grain and hay. 

The Wells county farmer has greatly im- 
proved in his knowledge of his profession; 
in business methods, and methods of man- 
aging his farm, cultivating his crops and 
in the breeding and care of his stock. This 
improvement has been brought about b}- 
the reading and study of agricultural papers 
and books, and by farmers' institutes and 
clubs, coupled with his own experience and 
observations. \Miile most any kind of 
farming would produce fair crops in favor- 
able seasons in the virgin soil of our county, 
it now takes skillful farming to succeed in 
raising large paying crops in all seasons. 
By this we do not mean that the land is 
poorer and the conditions more unfavorable 
than formerly, for they are not. In the 
early days the forests had been binned off 
and the fertility that had been gathering for 
centuries was thus made immediately avail- 
able for plants to feed upon. In all those 
centuries nothing had been remoxed from 
the land. The leaves and twigs had de- 
cayed where the\ grew and the trees were 
mostly burned. The ground was also full 
of decayed and deca^'ing roots and thus 
abundant fertilits- was, as it were, lying 
aroimd ready to be eaten by the crops when 
planted, just as acorns and hickory nuts 
were lying scattered around for the farmers' 
liogs to eat up when turned into the woods. 
When the acorns and hickory nuts were 
gathered up, then the farmer had to replace 
them with other food for his hogs. So when 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



47 



tlie forest fertility was gathered up by the 
crops the farmer had to learn how to make 
other fertilizers available, raise more or 
liberate more for his crops. However, the 
supply is rich and abundant. There 
is enough plant food in the soil of Wells 
county to last for thousands of years, but 
it requires skill to make it available and to 
keep the land in a suitable condition for the 
raising of good crops every season. As the 
supply in the soil is made available by the 
air, the water, by freezing and thawing, 
by cultivation and stirring of the soil, by 
the plant roots and by the decay of vegeta- 
ble matter in the soil and the acids produced 
thereby and by the agency of bacterial life 
in the soil, the farmer must manage the soil 
and the crops so as to make the conditions 
the most favorable for all these agencies. 
He must also add to the amount of plant 
food made available from month to month 
and from season to season the manures pro- 
duced by the feeding of animals on the 
larm. He must also add to the plant food 
of the soil the gases of the air that are used 
by the plants and which give life to the bac- 
lerial life of the soil. To do all this we can 
readily see why it requires more skillful 
farming and better posted farmers today 
than it did twenty-five or thirty-five years 
ago, when nature alone had accomplished 
what the farmer must now help to accom- 
])lish. In those early days the conditions 
required principally muscle to make a suc- 
cessful farmer, while now the chief qualifi- 
cation is brains. 

We have examined into the agricultural 
conditions of the past and the present in our 
county, now let us look ahead a little way 
and try to see what the future has in store 
for us. Like Patrick Henrv, we ha\e no 



way of judging the future but by the past. 
We know the conditions and changes of the 
past, and the tendencies of the present, and 
so we are enabled to form some correct 
]>remises as to what the future is apt to be. I 
predict that our agricultural conditions will 
continue to improve in the coming years, 
not at so rapid a pace, perhaps, as in the 
past, but there will be continual improve- 
ment and advancement in knowledge and 
wisdom and skill and wealth and pleasure 
amongst the farming classes. In another 
quarter of a century every farmer will have 
his mail delivered to him every day. Most 
farmers will then be connected with each 
other and with the outside world by tele- 
phone. Electric cars will cross our coun- 
try in all directions and will give easy, 
cjuick and cheap transportation everywhere. 
Farmers' clubs, institutes and organiza- 
tions will be the rule instead of the excep- 
tion, as now. Farmers will have more 
leisure to devote to such institutions. They 
will then stand shoulder to shoulder and 
will work together for their mutual inter- 
ests and welfare. The best of stock will be 
found on e\'ery farm, and the lands will be 
so farmed as to make them yield their ut- 
most. Farmers will read and study more, 
and so will be better and more successful 
farmers, which will mean more wealth to 
them, and with more wealth will come more 
ease and comfort, more privileges and pleas- 
ures in life. Improvements in farm machin- 
ery will continue. Electricity, gasoline 
and wind will dci mure and more of the 
work on the farm. The homes will be 
lighted and heated by electricity, which will 
have been generated by wind power. The 
time is fast approaching when farming will 
lie the pleasantest. mi>st ])rofital")le and most 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



desirable pursuit to follow, as it is now the 
most healthful, least confining and most in- 
dependent of all the professions. Then 
many engaged in other professions will 
envy the farmer, his occupation, his lovely 
home and his ease and comfort and enjoy- 
ment in life, and will try to change their 
professions to farming, but will not be able 
to do so, as there will be no more farms to 
possess, and the farmers will not sell out 
and go to the hot, crowded, noisy cities to 
live, but will live on their farms all their 
days and then turn them over to their chil- 
dren. To bring about such results in farm- 



ing, the farmers must be better educated, 
better posted in their profession, more fully 
awake to their opportunities, more ready 
to make the best use of their privileges, and 
more in love with their farm life and work. 
And these qualities are becoming more and 
more common as the years roll by. There 
is a glorious future in store for the agricul- 
turists of our county and nation. The 
farmer is in partnership with the Lord, who 
made the soil, who waters it with rain and 
dews, who warms it with sunshine, who 
supplies it with air and life and beauty, and 
he must succeed. 



PUBLIC EDUCATION, 



BY P. A. ALLEN. 



The eaiiy beginnings always form an 
interesting chapter in any historical sketch, 
especially when it has to do with a subject 
which lies so near to the hearts of the people 
as does that of public education. In this 
important interest Wells county and the 
city of Bluffton have always occupied a 
place in the front rank and have for years 
enjoyed an enviable reputation throughout 
the state. In providing for the growth 
and efficiency of the schools, those who laid 
the foundation of the fine system which is 
a matter of just pride to our people, spared 
no pains or reasonable expense, and time 
has demonstrated that they "builded better 
than they knew." The foundation was laid 
broad and deep and will support well the 
superstructure which the later generations 
shall build upon it. 

While a study of the beginning has a 
charm and absorbing interest on account of 
the mist of years that surrounds it, it is a 
matter of keen regret that a record of this 
first period was not made at the time it was 
fresh in the minds of those who actively 
participated in it. So long a time has 
elapsed since the first steps were taken in 
public education in this county that there 



are few persons now living who were here 
in that pioneer period, and the infirmities of 
age have so impaired their powers of recol- 
lection that the incidents they are able to 
recall are so fragmentary and disconnected 
that nothing like a succinct account can be 
made from the information gleaned from 
those sources. That part of this chapter 
which is reminiscent in character was ob- 
tained by interviews with many persons 
who have been residents of their respective 
neighborhoods for many years and are well 
acquainted with the traditions of their local- 
ity. We realize that the best possible sketch 
to be written in this way will be open to the 
just criticism of being incomplete because of 
the omission of man}' most interesting 
things, and incorrect because of the defec- 
tive memories of many of our informants. 
With this understanding we will ask our 
readers to take it for what it is worth, be- 
lieving it will contain something of inter- 
est for all who are in any wa}- identified 
with the interests of the county. 

A school which is claimed b}- some to be 
the first in the county was taught by Jesse 
McGrew in 1837 in a school house which 
stood on the Adam Miller farm, southeast 



50 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



of Bluffton, on Six Mile creek, on the south 
part of section 1 1, in Harrison township. 
Another of the early school houses of the 
county was near the one above mentioned, 
where David Powell's old tannery stood. 
It was a log building, eleven by eighteen 
feet in size, with clapboard roof held on 
with weight poles. The seats were ar- 
ranged in semi-circular form about the fire- 
place; the writing desks were of hewn slabs 
l)inned to the walls, and a row of backless 
benches in front of them for the use of the 
more advanced pupils. This was the typical 
school house of the period. 

The first school in the present limits of 
Elufifton was taught by Asa Cohoe, a Uni- 
ted Brethren minister, in the year 1839- 
40. in a log school house on the north side 
of the Henry Thoma residence lot on 
Scott street. This house was like its con- 
temporaries in the country, in that it was 
provided with a huge fii'e place which occu- 
pied nearly all of one side of the room. It 
had a clay back wall and stick chimney. It 
took in logs of firewood ten feet long, and 
required a good-sized saw-log for the back- 
log. Mr. Cohoe taught school during the 
week, and preached to his congregation on 
Sundays. This log school house was suc- 
ceeded by a brick structure which was used 
for school purposes until the erection of the 
Central building in 1868. 

The following incident will illustrate the 
wilderness condition of the territory \\'hich 
is now the site of the city of Bluffton : Rev. 
Cohoe, the first teacher in the town, went 
hunting one day and was returning in the 
dusk of the evening. In trying to find his 
home, which was located at the corner of 
Market and Marion streets, he became hope- 
lessly lost and came to the conclusion that 



he was in the depths of the forest, he knew 
not how far from his home. Despairing of 
being able to find his home that night, he 
decided to make the best of the situation and 
prepared to spend the night in the woods. 
He crawled into a hollow log, and barricad- 
ed the entrance with logs and chunks to pro- 
tect himself from wolves, which were very 
plentiful at that time. He thus spent the 
night in safety, and in the morning was 
awakened by the crowing of roosters at the 
home of Nelson Kellogg, at the corner of 
Main and Cherry streets, only a block away. 
The log in which he had lain was where the 
George Harnish residence now stands on 
Cherry street. When we see Bluiifton as it 
now is, with all its metropolitan improve- 
ments. It seems almost incredible that the 
conditions only sixty-three years ago were 
such as that the abo\'e incident could have 
occurred. 

Some of the pupils of the first schools in 
the city were B. F. Wiley, Warren Mc- 
Bride, J. B. Plessinger, Gabriel Shrock, 
Nancy Spencer, Mrs. Fay, George and 
Newton Burwell, Josie Hall. Joel Kemp, 
Ruth McDowell, Abraham and David 
Thompson, James, Calvin and Frank Deam 
and their sister Elizabeth, afterward the 
wife of James Russell. 

In 1843 Nelson Kellogg taught a school 
in a shed-roofed building at the north end 
I if Johnson street, on the banks of the 
Wabash. J. B. Plessinger has occasion to 
remember that }-ear, as he froze his feet 
while gathering fire wood with which to 
keep the rest of the school from freezing to 
death. Ann Maria Hubbell, a niece of Ad- 
nah Hall, taught school in the same building 
later. The next winter George Brown 
taught school in the log court house, which 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



SI 



was the first temple of justice erected in the 
cijunty. Robinson McKinney taught school 
the next year in a double room which stood 
where the Studabaker bank and the Snyder 
shoe store now stand. Several men still 
living in this city, who were boys under the 
tuition of George Brown, can tell interest- 
ing stories of that gentleman's unsuccessful 
attempts to use formidable bundles of wil- 
low gads on the backs of the larger pupils. 
James Donaldson and James McOuade 
taught school at one time in a building at 
the east end of Market street on the river 
bank. Both these gentlemen are remem- 
liered not only for their profound scholastic 
attainments, l)ut for the severe means of 
discipline to which they resorted. 

Another of the early school buildings was 
a brick structure which stood on Miller 
street, just north of the old Baptist church. 
This is still standing and forms part of the 
residence of Arthur Linn. In this build- 
ing Rev. R. H. Jackson and wife were 
among the early teachers. Mr. Jackson was 
a Presbyterian minister and his wife was 
the first music teacher in the town. The 
third brick school house to be erected in the 
city was the two-story building at the cor- 
ner of Marion and Cherry streets, which 
was called the High School, not only be- 
cause of its imposing appearance, but for 
the reason that the larger scholars attended 
there. Two teachers were employed in this 
fjuilding. This was used for school pur- 
])Oses until the erection of the present Cen- 
tral building, after which it was used as a 
corn-plantei' factory, and then as a resi- 
dence. It also served as the home of the 
free kindergarten for one year. 

.\mong the early teachers in the city re- 
membered bv our oldest citizens were Eliz- 



abeth Jane Burwell, who became the wife of 
Cyrus Burgan, Mrs. Wilson M. Bulger, 
Miss Belle Hanna, of Wooster, Ohio, Mrs. 
Martha Wilson, John J. Cooper, John Fore- 
man, Mr. Washburn, Jack Drummond, 
Crawford Marquis, Charles Cruikshank, 
Cynthia Parker, of Huntertown, Elizabeth 
Blackledge, now Mrs. E. M. C. Ninde, Liz- 
zie Cozier, of Pennsylvania, T. A. R. Eaton, 
John S. McCleery, Mrs. H. C. Arnold, 
Newton Burwell, Nelson Kellogg and Rev. 
Russ, a Presbyterian minister. Lewis S. 
Grove, the first county auditor, taught a 
school in a building on the hill where the 
Henry Oman house now stands. 

W. B. DeHaven, who came here in 1854, 
gives his school experience as follows : The 
first term I went to C. W. Beardsley in the 
Thoma brick school house. The next year 
I attended school in the United Brethren 
church, which stood at the corner of Scott 
and Market streets, and was taught by C. 
W. Beardsley and John H. Buckles. The 
next year I went to the "planter factory," as 
it is still called, and was under the tuition of 
Nathaniel Greenfield. The next year I went 
to the brick school on Miller street, which 
was presided over by Nicholas Van Horn. I 
finished my education the next year in the 
"planter factory," which was under the care 
of Prof. J. S. McCleery." This little sketch 
of Mr. DeHaven will recall to many others 
their own experience. 

We must not think of the school work in 
those days as a plain, unalloyed effort to 
master the subjects prescribed in the meager 
curriculum of that time. School life was 
varied by the introduction of many diver- 
sions, some of which are no longer to be 
found among the adjuncts of school work. 
Such were the spelling contests, literary 



52 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



societies and school exhibitions. All these 
served their useful purposes before they 
were superseded by the ideas of today. 
The first school exhibition ever given in the 
city was under the direction of Mr. Fore- 
man, who has been mentioned in this sketch. 
It was held in the old Presbyterian church 
on East Washington street and consisted of 
songs, recitations and dialogues. It w-as 
regarded as a great affair at that time and 
enlisted the interest not only of the entire 
town but drew crowds from miles around. 
In 1 868 the first six rooms of the Central 
building were built and the other three 
school properties were disposed of. In the 
erection of this new building the school 
board came in for very sharp criticism. It 
was pronounced by many a very foolish 
piece of extravagance, and it was predicted 
that the time would never C(jnie when it 
would all be needed for school purposes. But 
time has justified the wisdom of those who 
planned and built at that time, for it was 
not long until the six rooms were over- 
crowded and it became necessary to build 
more nxims, making it the present ten- 
room building. After the erection of the 
Central building in 1868 all the pupils were 
brought together and were placed under the 
care of Prof. Reefy, the first city superin- 
tendent. Mr. Reefy was an excellent man 
for the place and soon had the school sys- 
tem of the city in successful and satisfactory 
operation. The magnificent maples which 
adorn the campus of the high school and 
Central buildings are a monument to his 
memory, as he planted them with his own 
hands the first year of his school work here. 
Since Mr. Reefy, the city superintendents 
have been as follows : Mr. Lilly, Mr. 
Thomas, Mr. Buckley, Mr. Vaughn, Mr. 



Gunder, Mr. Ernst, P. A. Allen, 1881 to 
1891, W. P. Burris, 1891 to 1897, E. D. 
Walker, 1897 to 1899. W. A. Wirt, the 
present very eflicient superintendent, has 
been in this position since September, 1899. 

The increase in school accommodations 
has more than kept pace w'ith the growth of 
the city. The five school buildings now in 
use date as follows: Central building, six 
rooms, in 1868, to which four rooms were 
added in 1879. Two rooms of the Wash- 
ington Park building were erected in 1883 
and the other two rooms were built in 1886. 
The high school building was built in 1890, 
and the Columbian building in 1893. The 
manual training department otcupies the 
old Baptist church on Wabash street. 

The high school was organized by P. A. 
Allen in 188 1, and in 1883 graduated its 
first class. It was commissioned in 1885, 
and the course has been strengthened from 
year to year by the addition of studies, and 
its work has been made more effective by 
the equipment of good chemical, physical 
and biological laljoratories. The high 
school has never failed to send out each year 
a fine class of graduates, the class of 1886 
consisting of thirty-four young ladies and 
gentlemen, being the largest in the history 
of the school. The library was started in 
1 88 1, and received additions each year of 
bo(jks purchased b_\- funds raised by means 
of various enterprises for the purpose and 
by collections taken in the different rooms. 
It had grown to se\-eral thousand volumes 
before it w-as changed to a public library 
and a tax levied for its maintenance. 

The present teaching force now numbers 
twenty-five in all the schools, and Superin- 
tendent Wirt is wonderfully successful in 
his administration of the various interests of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



S3 



tlie schdols under his care. Substantial 
])nigress marks each year's \vi)rl<. Jilanual 
training has been introduced in several of 
the grades and that part of the work placed 
under the care of Prof. F. C. Whitcomb. 
The manual training building on \\'abash 
street is well fitted up with the necessa'ry 
e(|uipment for that line of work. 

The beginnings in the rural districts of 
the county are full of interest, but we are 
scrr}- to say that data for that part of the 
sketch is very meager. A comparatively 
few names were obtainable from the avail- 
able sources of information, and we regret 
we are not able to enrich this chapter with a- 
profusion of the incidents and happenings 
w hicli must have belonged to that time. 

The first school in Lancaster township, 
and probably the first in the county, was 
the one taught by A. B. Waugh, father of 
Representative A. A. Waugh. The building 
Avas made of round logs, and greased paper 
served for windows. It had in it the old 
fashioned school furniture of that i)eriod, 
and must have loeen very primiti\e indeed. 
Some of those who attended school at that 
time were O. F. Sutton, Jacob Harvey, Wil- 
liam Har\-ey, Tom Logan, Campbell Scott, 
^\"illiam Metts, afterward a minister in the 
^Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. J. L 
Metts. Mary Ellen Metts, now Mrs. T. A. 
Doan. It was a subscription school. One 
of the incidents of that first school was a 
law suit which grew out of a whipping 
-which was administered by Mr. Waugh to 
one of the big boys. It was inflicted by the 
use of a rule. The suit resulted in Mr. 
W'augh's favor, the court deciding that the 
punishment was not only deserved but reas- 
onable. Another incident of the first school, 
which illustrates the progress that has been 



made in temperance, occurred at the close 
of the term. It was known to be the cus- 
tom to treat the scholars on such occasions, 
and Mr. Waugh, in complying with this 
unwritten custom, provided a wash-tub full 
of egg-nog, and all present were invited to 
help themselves freely to this beverage. A 
natural result of the free use of this kind of 
refreshment was that several of the larger 
boys became too drunk to get home without 
assistance. The fact that this incident met 
only a slight protest from a very few of the 
stricter ones shows how ideas have changed 
in the past sixty-four years. The second 
school house in Lancaster township was built 
about ten years later, four miles east of 
Murray, on Allen Clark's land, not far from 
Souder's farm. A man from Ohio wais em- 
ployed to teach, but he encountered the con- 
ditions described in the "Hoosier School- 
master," and not having the grit and tact of 
Ralph Hartsock, was driven off by the larg- 
er boys before the school had progressed 
very far. The plan of these boys was to 
combine themselves whenever the teacher 
attempted to punish one of their nuiuber. 
After the Ohio man had been driven from 
the field, David Clark was employed, but 
he suffered the same fate as his predecessor. 
His father, Allen Clark, was then employed, 
but he fared no better than his son. As a 
fourth effort in that term Sutton Metts was 
engaged to teach the school out with the 
understanding that he must succeed or he 
would not get an)' money for his services. 
The third day it became necessary for him 
to punish one of the disturbers. At this 
juncture some of the other boys attempted 
to carry out the tactics which had proven 
so successful with the other teachers. But 
they met with a surprising and very eft'ect- 



54 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ive defeat. Mr. Metts, determined to profit 
by the experience of his predecessors, had 
provided himself with a lot of short clubs, 
which he had hidden until needed. When 
the boys were beginning to concentrate their 
forces, Mr. Metts had recourse to his supply 
of clubs, which he used with such rapidity 
and skill over the heads of his assailants 
that they were effectually knocked out in 
the first round and the rumpus settled in 
short order. Mr. Metts taught the term out 
and it is said that there was never any more 
trouble in that district afterward. 

Another institution, aside from the public 
schools, which had great influence for good 
on that part of the country was the opening 
at Murray, in 1852, of an academy. This 
was held in the old Presbyterian church, 
wliich is still standing and is used for a 
barn on the McCleery property. The lead- 
ing spirit in this-^enterprise was Rev. Wil- 
son "SI. Donaldson, who was the pastor of 
the Presbyterian church at Bluffton and 
later at Ossian, Hiram Hatfield was a 
member of the board of that institution. 
The academy drew an attendance of young 
people from eight or teli miles around. The 
course of study provided was high for that 
time, and the academy left its impress upon 
the people of that generation in a marked 
degree. The principal was Joseph Ster- 
ling, of Pennsylvania, and the tuition was 
at the rate of five dollars per term of three 
months. Among those who were students 
at the academy were George E. Gardiner, 
Sam Ogden, Henry McLellan. R. F. Gavin. 
;\Iary Cotton, A. H. Metts and many 
others. The institution continued in opera- 
tion until, in the early 'sixties, during the 
war, when it suspended operations. 

Among the early teachers in Lancaster 



township were Dr. J. I. Metts, who taught 
in the old Methodist church at Murray. Mc- 
Coy Smith taught at the Center in 185 1. 
Simeon Myers also taught at the Center. 
J. L. Myers taught in that township and 
also at Rock Creek Center and at the Far- 
ling school house. Slyvia Tobey, of New- 
ford, was the second teacher at Murray. 
Later teachers were Dr. Williams, Craw- 
ford Marquis, Johnson Marquis and Adam 
Davison. 

The first school in Jefferson township 
was taught by Isaac Hatfield, two miles 
northeast of Ossian. The second was in the 
Ogden neighborhood, southeast of Ossian. 
These were established a few years before 
the opening of any school at Ossian. The 
history of the schools of Jefferson township 
is closely identified with the official career 
of Dr. J. I. Metts, who served as trustee in 
all nearly twenty-two years. He was elected 
in 1859 and served until 1878, when a 
change in the state law limited the term of 
trustee and he was not eligible for re-elec- 
tion. He was again elected to the office af- 
ter an interval of four years, and served the 
])rescribed limit, two years. It was under 
his administration that the township graded 
school was established at Ossian, the first 
one to be established in the county. He 
planned the brick building at Ossian and 
provided for its erection. His successor, 
James Gorrell, took up the work and carried 
it to completion in 1878. A class of four 
members was graduated from the Ossian 
high school in the spring of 188 1, which 
\\as the first class to be graduated in the 
county. 

One of the early schools in Jackson 
township was called the Colbert school, 
and was in the north part of the township. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



55 



In 1 85 1 the teacher who had been selected 
for the place gave up the job and James R. 
Bennett \vas chosen, but declined to take the 
position, modestly contending that he was 
too young for the place. He was then 
asked if he would assist in case W. H. 
Parmerlee, living near Bluffton, should be 
chosen to take charge of the school. He 
agreed to this proposition, and accordingly 
took up the work of assistant to Mr. Parm- 
erlee, who was an old man and in ill health, 
which often occasioned his absence from 
school. ]\Ir. Bennett's duties were to solve 
all difficult problems, write all the copies 
and take full charge in the absence of Mr. 
Parmerlee. A year later the school at Dill- 
man was built of logs, and it was regarded 
as the finest school house in the county at 
that time. J. R. Bennett and R. L. McFad- 
den were among the number who helped to 
raise the building. Robert Alexander was 
the first teacher to have charge in this build- 
ing. Among the scholars in that first Dill- 
man school were R. L. McFadden. Frank 
McFadden, Martha McFadden. D. K. El- 
kins, Sarah Elkins, and the families of \Vm. 
Duckwall and Jacob Banter. Among the 
prominent teachers in the earlier days of 
the township were Eli Arnold, B. M. El- 
kins, Fanny Ricketts and Mr. Lockwood. 
It is remarked by one identified with the 
early days in Jackson township that the 
prevalent idea was "no lickin', to larnin'," 
and for that reason the gad was held in higli 
esteem by the teachers and regarded with 
great fear by the scholars. This was no 
doubt true of every township in the county. 
The same authority states that the people 
of the township prided themselves on their 
good spelling, and it was the highest ambi- 
tion of larger scholars to be able to master 



the old Webster's Elementarv Spelling 
Book. 

An old resident of Nottingham town- 
ship states that Stanton Scott, father of 
Thomas E. Scott, was actively identified 
with the school interests at the beginning of 
that township. Beginning with 1849 he 
was trustee and treasurer till the close of 
1853. Jason R. Blackledge was a trustee 
and clerk during that period. An old rec- 
ord shows that the first election for school 
officers of the township was held in 1849. 
The enumeration of school children taken 
in September of that year showed that there 
were 149 children of school age in the town- 
ship, which was divided into nine school 
districts. The districts varied in the num- 
ber of school children from five to thirty- 
one. The enumeration taken three years 
later showed 168 school children in the 
township. At an election held in August, 
185 1, to elect a trustee, but six votes were 
cast, the successful candidate receiving 
three of them. The clerk received twenty- 
five cents for taking the first enumeration, 
and later he received seventy-five cents for 
that service. The names of Gabriel Bur- 
gess, E. Harlan Philips, James S. Williams 
and others also appear as having been trus- 
tees. Martha Marmon was paid one dollar 
and a quarter for a half acre of ground on 
which to build a school-house at District 
No. 9, known as the Scott school. 

The first school in Union township was 
erected in 1848 or 1849. and was built of 
round logs, puncheon floor, stick and mud 
chimney, roof of clapboards held in place 
by weight poles. The seats were of linden or 
bass wood, from trees eight to ten inches 
in diameter, split in halves, with pegs in 
each end for supports. Such were the ma- 



56 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tcTial and furnishings of Zion school house, 
or "Old Zion," as it was called, that stood 
line mile south of Zanes\-ille. Abraham 
Heaber, who then li\-ed three-fourths of a 
mile south, taught there the winter of 1850. 
Nothing now remains to show where this 
once great institution of learning stood. 
Ormsby's school, near the old Ormsby 
farm, was of the same class, as was "Center 
school" and "College Corner." At the lat- 
ter place the first school was during the 
winter of 1851-52 and was taught by a Mr. 
Hixon, a brother of John Hixon, the grand- 
father of Frank Hixon, of this city. The 
school house in the south part of the town- 
ship was Ijuilt in the woods somewhere near 
the present location of Jeremiah Roe's 
farm buildings. The late John Kain was 
largely instrumental in having it erected. 
He had a large family of boys and girls of 
school age, among them Re\-. D. F. Kain 
and Frank Kain, of this cit}-. James Jen- 
nings, who went west during the Pike's 
Peak gold excitement, was the first teacher. 
He was a brother of Peter Jennings, still a 
resident of Union township. E. J. Felts, 
w ho died in this city a few years ago, taught 
(he second term at Kain's school house. 
.Stephen D. Cartwright, who wielded the 
birch in the old log school house at Union- 
town, is yet an honored resident of the 
township. The furniture of all the schools 
taught was usually about the same; the 
teacher occupied a split-bottomed chair at 
the point in the room opposite the door, in 
his left hand he held a book, pen or slate, as 
might be required, while in his right hand 
he held the emblem of his power, a water 
beech gad from four to six feet long. First 
he called the little boys and girls, who came 
individually and stood by his knee while 



they said the a. b, c's. One book served all 
the boys and one the girls, if there were 
two: if not. one served for all. Then came 
the first spelling class, second spelling class, 
first, second, third and fourth reading 
classes in the order given. Scholars while 
reciting stood in line close to the wall oppo- 
site the teacher's seat. One or two books 
answered for half a dozen pupils. The 
leacher looked over the shoulders of one of 
the pupils, or if he had a book of his own, 
he looked on and assisted in pronouncing 
the hard words. If some boy or girl came 
across a "sum" that he could not "work," 
the teacher was called upon at any time to 
"do the sum," and woe to him if he refused 
tor any reason to comply. What was he 
]^aid the enormous salary of one dollar per 
day for if not to do sums for the scholars? 
Before dismissing school all the scholars 
stood in a row and spelled a prepared les- 
son. The teacher pronounced the words and 
the scholar at one end of the row, called the 
head of the class, named the letters in their 
]>roper order and pronounced each syllable. 
If this one failed, then the next one at- 
tempted the task, and so on until the word 
was correctly spelled and pronounced. The 
successful speller went above the first one 
to miss, and if he got to the head of the class 
and maintained that position until the end 
of the day's session, he w'as credited with a 
"head mark," and very up-to-date teachers 
of that time gave prizes at the end of the 
term to the scholars who secured the most 
of these marks. There was often lively 
competition at the beginning of the term 
among a numlier of pupils, Init later it 
narrowed down to two or three contestants, 
who actually competed for the prize, while 
the other pupils arrayed themselves as 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



57 



friends of the one or the other of the leaders 
and aided or opposed tliem by means not 
always fair. The spelling school was the 
great social featnre of the school. Log- 
rollings, raisings, corn-huskings and wood- 
choppings were the social gatherings of the 
country, attended by young men and 
women and older persons, but it was at the 
spelling school that the small boy and girl 
were allowed to have sport, and felt them- 
selves a real part of the procession. Every 
week the pupils clamored or a "spellin"." 
^^'hen the teacher, after roll call in the even- 
ing, announced that if candles could be 
furnished a spelling school would be held on 
a certain night during the week, there was 
immediate excitement. "We'll furnish 
one," called out a representatixe of some 
family, and then there was a whispering be- 
tween brothers and sisters, and it usually 
took all the resources of the district in that 
line to furnish the three or four candles nec- 
essar}- tn dimly light the room, and the 
teacher had to hold one in hand to "give 
out" by. The spelling school of those days 
is well described in the "Hoosier School- 
master." Pupils did their utmost to have the 
announcement made through their own and 
adjoining districts. "The more the mer- 
rier" was their motto, while the teacher who 
had to manage the crowd in the little 20x24 
school room took an opposite \iew. Aside 
from the fun to be derived from the spelling 
school there was no little benefit. The 
rivalry between the different schools and 
the desire to be chosen among the first 
caused many a boy and girl to spend hours 
in their efforts to master all the words in 
the old Elementary Spelling Book. An- 
other social and intellectual feature of many 
of the schools was the debating societies. 



These were participated in by the boys and 
young men, and often the patrons of the 
district. Embryo statesmen, with all the 
fervor of actual combat in congressional 
halls, debated such questions as these: 
"Resohed. That the dog is of more use to 
man than the gun." "Resolved, That cattle 
are of greater use to mankind than the 
horse," "War is a greater evil than intem- 
perance," "The negro has greater cause to 
complain than the Indian." 

About the year 1854 township libraries 
\\ere established, which were kept at the 
homes of the trustees. As there were then 
three trustees in each township, when the 
books were divided among them, the}- were 
so distributed that every boy who wished 
to debate could have access to them, and 
every volume was carefully searched for 
material with which to down the other fel- 
lows in the great debates. 

There were few church buildings in the 
country and religious meetings of all kinds 
were held in the schoolhouses. The pro- 
tracted, or "big meetings." always conduct- 
ed in the winter, were often continued for 
a period of six consecutive weeks, evening 
meetings only being held excepting on Sun- 
day. Thus they took the place largely of 
the spelling school and debatiiTg society. 
Young people and old attended and even if 
not interested in their spiritual welfare, they 
met their friends and enjoyed a social hour 
together. 

If the small boys played "blackman" in 
the woods during the services it was because 
there was not room for them inside, at least 
that is what they told their mothers on 
going home, and it was often if not always 
the truth. If the sleighing was good most 
of the inhabitants of the township attended 



58 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



the "big meetin'." In later years, since 
churches have been erected in ever}' neigh- 
borhood, the use of the school houses has 
been limited to educational purposes almost 
exclusively. 

L^p to the time of the Civil war few or 
no lady teachers were employed. It was 
then thought that "school marms" could 
not govern the big boys. What led to the 
introduction of lady teachers at this time was 
the fact that the big boys had mostly gone 
to the army, and consequently were not in 
attendance as pupils and could not be em- 
ployed as teachers. Teachers were a ne- 
cessity and this necessity was the school 
ma'am's opportunity. She was employed 
then and has ever since held her position. 
One of the first to take command at "Col- 
lege Corners" was a Miss Smith. The boys 
"reckoned they could run her (jut afore 
three weeks." They did not, however. The 
larger number of the scholars liked her and 
obeyed her for that reason. Those that did 
not soon found that she could lick with a 
stick just like a "master." She taught two 
or three terms at the same place and fully 
demonstrated that a school marm could 
keep "winter school." In the mean time 
school buildings had impro\ed. Hewed 
logs or frame buildings had taken the place 
of the little pens, blackboards and some 
maps and charts were installed, methods of 
teaching were improved and the old recog- 
nized truism, "no lickin", no larnin'," was 
questioned. It is the opinion of our in- 
formant that the teachers of Union town- 
ship were generally in advance of their pa- 
trons in the march of improvement. Pa- 
trons as well as pupils had to be educated. 
What was true of Union township was 
doubtless true of every township in the 



county. Had one of our present-day 
teachers introduced all his up-to-date meth- 
ods into the schools of Union township 
thirty years ago he would have been literally 
"fired over the transom." 

The teachers' institute was a very po- 
tent means of advancing both teachers and 
patrons. Many of those who taught in the 
township had attended the academy at 
Roanoke, of which Prof. Reefy, who later 
had charge of. the Bluffton schools, was the 
head. He attended the early institutes, 
and his teaching and talks reached every 
home and had much to do with placing the 
schools of the township in the very front of 
Wells county's schools. Among the old 
time teachers were the following named 
persons: Frank Hamilton, W. J. Beaty, 
John A. ^^'alker, Daniel K. Shoup, William 
Shoup, J. K. Rinehart, John Ormsby, 
James C. Kain. Elijah Sink, Henry My- 
grants and John L. Thomas. We must not 
fail to mention Noah Walker, who taught 
successfully in the early 'fifties, and who yet 
lives in the township. Henry Eichhorn, 
Wm. A. Wirt, J. Ed Ormsby and Ira Sink 
are representatives of a later period of im- 
proved methods, improved appliances and 
improved surroundings generally. The 
school ma'am, the up-to-date, handsome, 
cultivated, successful school ma'am, of 
Union township has robbed the male teach- 
er of his honor and glory and relegated him 
to a back seat. Instead of being sought and 
begged to take charge of a district school, he 
seeks the office of the trustee under a mantle 
of darkness to obscure him from the sight of 
the school ma'am and begs to be employed. 
"O, how the mighty schoolmaster has fal- 
len." The school ma'am has risen and the 
schools of Union township have been exalt- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



59 



ed until they are considered the best among 
the best. 

The foregoing very full and interesting 
picture of the early conditions in Union 
township, furnished us by John K. Rine- 
hart, pictures the condition in the townships 
of the county at that period. The changing 
of a few names would make the sketch apply 
with equal accuracy to other communities. 
Notwithstanding the vigorous plainness of 
all these surroundings, the genius of those 
\vho availed themselves of the facilities af- 
forded was in no way suppressed. From 
such early environment came those who 
have carved out the history of the county 
and adorned with honor the various places 
in the business or the professional world. 

The schools of the county and city have 
kept pace with the advanced schools of the 
state. While laws have been subject to slight 
changes from time to time, these changes 
have proven beneficial as a rule. In the 
early days the teachers were licensed by an 
officer called a school examiner, and the 
work of ascertaining the fitness of applicants 
varied with the examiner. Sometimes a 
very few questions more or less remotely 
connected with school work were sufficient 
to secure the necessary license. While there 
were some who maintained a high standard 
in their respective counties, yet it was fre- 
quently the case that very crude scholarship 
passed all right before the examiner. As 
the law said very little about qualifications, 
the examining officer enjoyed very wide 
latitude in his discretion. Among those who 
were charged with the responsibility of ex- 
amining and licensing teachers in Wells 
county in the early times were David T. 
Smith, W. H. Parmerlee, Nelson Kellogg 
and J. S. AlcCleery. In 1873 the law was 



changed and the office of the county super- 
intendent was created, which superseded 
that of the examiner. Since that time the 
county superintendents have been as fol- 
lows : J. S. McCleery, John H. Ormsby, 
Smith Goodin, S. S. Roth, elected in 1877, 
W. H. Ernst, elected in 1888, W. A. Luce, 
in 1887, S. A. Shoemaker, in February, 
1891, W. H. Eichhorn, in June, 1891, and 
R. W. Stine, the present incumbent, in 
August, 1893. During that period great 
progress has been made in the schools of 
the county. Well conducted county and 
township institutes have been great factors 
in helping to secure this advancement. The 
standard in examinations has been gradually 
raised until it is as high as can be found any- 
where. The last few years have been 
marked especially by the establishment of 
a number of township high schools, as well 
as the introduction of high school studies in 
some of the other graded schools. This 
very important step has been accomplished 
through the efforts of our very progressive 
county superintendent, R. W. Stine, work- 
ing in harmony with our enterprising and 
up-to-date township trustees. The first of 
these township high schools to be establish- 
ed was in Jefiferson township at Ossian, 
while Dr. J. I. Metts was trustee. It has a 
substantial eight-room building, is supplied 
with necessary apparatus and good work- 
ing library. Ajn excellent school spirit pre- 
vails in that community and the spirit of 
progress is apparent in all its educational af- 
fairs. Good classes are graduated every 
year from the school, which stands in high 
favor all over the township. 

Chester township took a great stride 
ahead in its school interests in 1896 when 
the fine township high school building was 



6o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



erected at Keystone. From tlie first tliis 
enterprise met with favor in nearly all quar- 
ters, although, as is the case nearly every- 
where, there was criticism from persons 
who thought that Trustee F. P. Risley had 
built a building much too large for the 
needs of the township. But it was not long 
until all the rooms were in use and well 
filled with earnest pupils under competent 
and enthusiastic instructors. All grounds 
of former criticism were removed and 
patrons all over the township were 
united in their support of and loyalty to the 
schools, which are the pride of the people. 
This school has been singularly fortunate in 
the selection of principal and assistant 
teachers. Principal A. R. Huyette has been 
in charge for the past several years and has 
inspired an interest which has been com- 
mendable and the work done in the high 
school, as well as in the various grades, is 
as thorough as can be found anywhere. 

W. C. Arnold, trustee of Liberty town- 
ship, kept pace with the spirit of progress 
and in 1896 erected the imposing township 
high school building at Liberty Center 
which has been a matter of pride to the en- 
tire township. Principal F. J. Haecker has 
been in charge the past two or three years 
and the school work has been characterized 
by great enthusiasm as well as thoroughness. 
More loyal patrons are not to be found any 
where than the people of Liberty Center and 
the township. The high school classes are 
well sustained and good classes complete 
the course each year. 

In 1899 the magnificent Lancaster 
township high school building was erected 
at Murray under the direction of Trustee 
N. E. Stafiford. The high school was at 
once organized and has been ever since 



maintained under capable princi])als and as- 
sistants. It seems eminently fitting that 
this place, one of the oldest settled places 
in the county, where the first school was 
established and where a flourishing academy 
was sustained for several years, long before 
a high school was thought nf at any other 
place in the county, should jinii in the pro- 
cession of this later progress and afford to 
the young people of the surrounding com- 
munity as fine a course of study as can be 
found anywhere outside of the cities. This 
school is at present under the very efficient 
care of Principal S. J. Brickley. 

Nottingham township, which has been 
the scene for the past few years of so much 
activity and progress in material things, is 
with others at the head of the procession in 
educational affairs. In 1899 Trustee Samuel 
Gehrett, after mature consideration, erected 
the Nottingham township high school 
near Petroleum. This is one of the finest 
school buildings in the county, jirovided 
with all the modern conveniences. Although 
it stands out in the country with not even 
a farm house close to it, its rooms have been 
thronged with a busy lot of pupils of all 
grades from all over the township. Since 
this building was erected when the town- 
ship high school idea had hardly passed the 
experimental stage, it is very gratifying to 
those who were interested in its organiza- 
tion that time has so thoroughly shown the 
wisdom of the enterprise. Principal Q. R. 
Tavines is directing the afl^airs of this school 
in a very able manner. 

Besides the five township high schools 
above mentioned, high school work is done 
in the schools of Vera Cruz, Craigville, 
Zanesville, Dillman and Poneto. All these 
schools are in charge of well qualified in- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



6r 



structors, who with their patrons and pu- 
pils are ambitious to expand the scope of 
study and influence of their respective 
schools. 

Wells county has 7,258 persons of school 
age, 3,749 males and 3,509 females. Dur- 
ing the past year there were 5,805 pupils 
enrolled in the schools, 2,986 males and 
2,819 females, and the average daily attend- 
ance was 4,462. There is one commissioned 
high school, the one at Bluffton, five town- 
ship high schools, and five others in which 
high school work is done. There are eighty- 
nine school districts in each of which Ixit one 
teacher is employed. There are one hundred 
and six school buildings in the county, all 
of which are of brick. The value of the 
school buildings and apparatus is $241,375. 
There are 9,533 volumes in the various li- 
braries. The total assessment of taxable 
property in the county is $13,954,315. 
There are enrolled in the high schools of 
the county 355 students, of whom 146 are 
in the Bluffton high school and 209 in 
the townships. 

The present board of township trustees 
are as follows : Alva B. Sine, Jackson town- 
ship: Lot McCullick, Chester township; 
George M. Gavin, Liberty township ; W. A. 
Redding, Rock Creek township: W. H. 
Kain, Union township ; Andrew Sours, Not- 
tingham township; Benjamin P. Smith, 
Harrison township; Joel Fry, Lancaster 



township; Nicholas Shorts, Jefiferson town- 
ship. These gentlemen are thoroughly pro- 
gressive and admirably fitted for their po- 
sitions. They are looking well after the 
school interests, and see to it that not only 
the schools of the count}' take no backward 
steps, Init that tliey shall make forward 
strides every year. If they do not establish 
as many township high schools as were 
started the past five or six years, it is be- 
cause their predecessors did that before 
them. Their work is even more important, 
that of so providing instructors and equip- 
ment for these schools that they shall be es- 
tablished on a firm basis and continue to be 
an inspiration to the people of their respect- 
ive townships. It is one of the great bless- 
ings of this age that the young people are 
provided with a high school education equal 
to the college education of a quarter of a 
century ago, without going out of the 
bounds of their own township. To main- 
tain these schools and keep the standard all 
the time moving forward is the work that 
is being accomplished by our excellent 
board of township trustees. 

The Blufifton school board consists of 
Abram Simmons, president; George F. 
Markley, secretary, and Chas. H. Plessinger, 
treasurer. • These gentlemen are coupling 
their efforts with those of Superintendent 
W. A'. Wirt to keep our city schools in the 
front rank of the schools of the state. 



LITERATURE AND ITS PROGRESS. 



BY MRS. D. T. SMITH. 



It goes without saying that the pulpit, 
the press and the school form the corner- 
stone of the foundation upon which rests 
the superstructure of literature. Wherever 
these three educators are so intelligently 
conducted as to produce results which are 
of a progressive order, one may be sure to 
find persons of pronounced literary ability. 
The seed which the divine hand plants with- 
in the souls of the sons and daughters of 
men requires careful, patient culture in or- 
der that the blossom and the fruit may give 
satisfactory results. 

With first-class reading matter at one's 
command, rapid strides may be made in lit- 
erary advancement, but the full harvest re- 
quires that there shall be an interchange of 
ideas with persons of refinement and cul- 
ture. In newly-settled countries, where 
churches, schools and printing presses are 
few and far between, it is to the pioneer cler- 
gyman that many persons are indebted for 
assistance in literary pursuits. The hard- 
worked, poorly-paid preacher of the past 
paved the way to future success, fortunately 
for all concerned, when he was able to com- 
bine his chosen profession with that of the 
teacher, and left a lasting impression of 
spiritual and mental progress upon the 



hearts of the people among whom he la- 
bored. 

Wells county as it is known today has 
had its full quota of struggles with poverty, 
malaria, and dearth of schools, churches and 
newspapeVs. Of its earlier history I am not 
personally acquainted, since my knowledge 
of it dates no further back than June, 1857. 
Events that transpired- prior to that time 
have many of them been related to me by 
descendants of the old settlers who gave 
them to their families as portions of family 
history. Some of those have no bearing 
whatever upon the subject in hand. In 
many instances I have found much difficul- 
ty in securing correct dates of events that 
are both historical and biographical. So 
many of the old people of this county have 
passed the border land within the last dec- 
ade that comparatively few are left who 
can be truthfully called "old settlers." 

With this introductory, I will attempt to 
tell what I know of the first religious service 
which was held in Blufifton, and which I 
have been assured was the first of its kind 
ever held in Wells county. In November, 
1888, the First Methodist Episcopal church 
of Blufifton celebrated its semi-centennial 
anniversary. At that time Rev. George W. 



WELLS COUNTY, LNDIANA. 



63 



Bowers, the minister who preached the first 
sermon in Bluffton, was present and led in 
all of the services of that important occa- 
sion. Fortunately for me I have preserved 
the invitation which was sent to me to at- 
tend those services, as it contains a brief 
history of the organization of the church. 
Quoting from this souvenir is the following 
statement: "About the middle of Novem- 
ber, 1838, the Rev. George W. Bowers, a 
young Methodist minister on what was at 
that time known as the Portland Mission, 
made his way down through the wilds of 
unpromising Wabash country to the town 
of Bluffton. Having called together a few 
of the settlers, he preached under an oak 
tree, on the bank of the Wabash, the first 
sermon ever delivered in Bluffton. After- 
wards he organized and established the first 
Methodist Episcopal church." The circuit 
upon which Rev. Bowers was assigned 
work embraced a large extent of territory. 
His appointments .were met under diffi- 
culties of which the present generation can 
form no adequate conception. His trips 
were made on horseback, o^er a country 
where Indians traveled, and where bears, 
deer, wolves and other wild animals had the 
pre-empted right of way. He rode through 
thickly wooded forests, guided by blazed 
trees which the settlers had thus 
marked, or over marsh and corduroy roads, 
varied occasionally by a turfy path over the 
flower-gemmed prairies. Li inclement 
weather weeks were consumed in making a 
round of his ciraiit. The settlers' cabins 
were far apart, and sometimes he rode many 
miles without seeing a human being or a 
habitation. His long absences from his home 
made it necessary for him to travel with his 
wardrobe and a portion of his library with 



him in order that he might not meet his ap- 
pointments and find himself without clean 
linen or hymn-book and Bible. Frequently 
he stopped for the night at some lonely log 
cabin where the greater number of the fam- 
ily were shaking with the ague, and the out- 
look for a good meal was not very cheerful. 
However, he was made welcome to such as 
the house afforded, and, in exchange for 
the hospitality of his host and hostess he not 
only gave them spiritual instruction, but he 
brought them news from the outside world, 
of which they heard only at rare intervals. 
It was a case of give and take, for while he 
partook of the hospitality of the settlers, 
he carried a rift of sunshine into their lives, 
through his scripture reading, his singing 
of hymns, and his knowledge of the arts and 
sciences. 

When Rev. Bowers rode into the little 
log settlement of Bluffton, situated upon the 
south bank of the Wabash, then a navigable 
river, he felt as if he was literally just out 
of the woods. The announcement of his 
coming had been duly made, and he was met 
with generous hospitality and warmly wel- 
comed. E\^ery home sent representatives 
to listen to his preaching, and as many of 
those living on farms within a few miles of 
town as could possibly do so helped to swell 
the numbers. This was a notable occasion, 
and men, women and children, on foot, on 
horseback, in farm wagons, and in carts 
which were drawn by slow-moving oxen, 
came to hear him. Many wore home-spun, 
home-made garments, of various styles and 
colors. Dame Fashion had few votaries 
there, for, with one accord, they came to 
hear the first sermon to which it had been 
their privilege to listen since they had left 
their old homes to settle in a new countrv. 



64 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



It requires no vivid imagination to picture 
the honest, joyful greeting which was ex- 
tended to each new arrival, and which was, 
in turn, extended to the young preacher 
who was that day to hreak the bread of life 
to them. Conversation was carried for- 
ward in the Hoosier and Southern dialects 
mostly, and there was no one to criticise. 

On both sides of the Wabash river were 
giant trees of hickory, walnut, oak and 
maple. Through these forests deer, wild- 
cats, wolves, and occasionally a bear and 
other denizens of the forest, roamed at their 
own sweet will. And here the crack of the 
huntsman's rifle often broke the stillness, 
and some unwary prowler fell to welter in 
its own life's blood. But those groves, 
which were the pre-empted homes of wild 
animals, were dail}- being marred by the 
settler's ax. The groves being "God's 
first temples," and having no other sanctuary 
in which to worship the "Almighty Ruler 
of the Universe," the pioneers selected one 
of the giant oaks on the south bank of the 
river, under which to hold their services. 
Nature's artistic pencil had touched the fol- 
iage of trees and shrubs with the various 
shades of red, yellow and brown, while a 
few green spots still withstood the frosts 
which had brought down from their sum- 
mer leafy home the acorns, hickorynuts and 
walnuts, in lavish profusion. Here, without 
a pulpit, and with an improvised choir, the 
service, which to the most of those assem- 
bled was literally a soul service, was held. 

Rev. Bowers must have been at this time 
a young man of more than ordinary ability, 
for his one year's pastorate in the county 
was attended with excellent results, and he 
greatly endeared himself to his people. 
When, in 1888, he appeared before the 



Bluffton congregation, he was nearly eigh- 
ty years of age. It was conceded by all 
who heard him at that time, that the pulpit 
had never been filled by a brighter, wittier 
man, or one who could so effectually touch 
the hearts of his congregation to lead them 
to a better life. His language and address 
were excellent, and he showed familiarity 
with the writings of our best authors ; he 
also gave evidence of having been a minister 
who had helped to arouse the latent literary 
ability of the people wherever he had been 
assigned a charge. Perhaps it is to him 
that Wells county may trace' its forward 
march in literature. 

Of the schools, another factor in the ad- 
\ancement of literature, Mr. P. A. Allen, 
in another article, will gWe a full and com- 
prehensive account. I will merely say that 
the first house in which a public school was 
taught in Bluffton was built like a shed, 
with a sloping board roof, and stood almost 
upon the identical spot where the first ser- 
mon was preached. 

The press, that wonderful disseminator 
of literature, has wielded a powerful influ- 
ence in Wells county. To those who ha\e 
never lived where newspapers were not lib- 
erally circulated, it appears almost incred- 
ible that there ever was a time when such a 
publication had no existence. However, it 
was eleven years after Rev. Bowers 
preached his first sermon on the bank of the 
Wabash before Wells county had the first 
newspaper published within its borders. In 
1849 Samuel Lupton issued the first number 
of the Bluffton Banner. This paper was 
devoted to the interests of the Democratic 
party, and has always been the official organ 
of the county. In its infancy it was a small 
four-paged paper with a limited circulation. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



65 



It has changed its editorial staff several 
times, and has been improved and enlarged 
in its appearance, but the name has never 
lieen changed. For over twd years past 
the Evening Banner, daily, has been issued 
from the same office. The present editor is 
George L. Saunders. 

In the early 'fifties Nelson Kellogg began 
the publication of a small paper called The 
People's Press. This paper was published in 
the interest of what was then the Whig par- 
ty. It has changed its editorial staff several 
times, and after the Civil war the name was 
changed to that of the Bluffton Chronicle, 
tlie leading Republican organ of the county. 
The present editor is D. H. Swaim, a na- 
tive of this county. For the past ten years 
the Evening News, a daily paper, has been 
issued from this office, and it has a large cir- 
culation. At this writing, there are five 
weekly and two daily newspapers published 
in this county. 

For many years after this county could 
claim its two weekly papers, the mail ser- 
vice was limited, in the rural districts a 
weekly mail being the limit. Even in Bluff- 
ton, the county seat, a tri-weekly or a bi- 
weekly mail prevailed lor nearh- thirty 
years. In the dearth of public libraries, the 
Banner and the Press were warmly wel- 
comed by the families when they made 
their weekly appearance. Every line of 
tlieir pages was read and talked over by all 
of the members of the families into which 
they found their way. The people of this 
county are certainly debtors to the two 
pioneer newspapers for their aid in dissem- 
inating good reading matter. 

After newspapers were an established 
fact in the county, the next step in literary 
work was that of securing public libraries 



where those so inclined could have access 
to the works of the best authors of history, 
biography, the arts and sciences, and of 
choice fiction. Long years before the world 
had heard of the benevolence of Andrew 
Carnegie, a public library was endowed in 
Bluffton ; the exact date I have not been 
able to obtain, but it was in the early 'fifties. 
I have also been informed that branch 
libraries were endowed in other townships 
in the county. This public benefactor was 
a man by the name of McClure, a wealthy 
citizen of the county, and the library was 
known by the name of McClure or Mechan- 
ic's Library. A library association was 
formed and about four hundred choice vol- 
umes were placed on the shelves or book- 
cases in the furniture rooms of Tribolet & 
Thoma. Those gentlemen were the librari- 
ans for about twenty-five years. Bv the 
terms of the endowment the books were 
subject to the drawing only of workingmen 
and their families. Later on, others be- 
sides the families of workingmen found a 
way to evade the terms, by securing the 
books through the services of those who 
were entitled to draw them. The McClure 
library was one of the prime factors which 
helped to arouse the people of the county to 
the cultivation of literary talent. 

The old log court house which stood on 
North Main street has been an historical 
landmark in other respects besides being 
the county hall of justice. Several religious 
denominations held their services and Sab- 
bath schools there until churches could be 
built, and lectures and singing schools were 
also held within its friendly walls. A de- 
bating society was organized there, and from 
among its members there have issued some 
of the brightest speakers of Wells countv. 



66 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



After clnirches, newspapers, schools and 
libraries were an established fact, the young 
people began to talk about organizing lit- 
erary societies, where they could spend an 
evening each week both pleasantly and profit- 
ably. There being a greater number of 
young people in Blufifton than elsewhere in 
the county, they took the initiative and ex- 
tended invitations to others in the county to 
participate with them. From the very first 
the greatest interest was manifested, and 
rapid advancement was made. The regular 
program consisted of debates, recitations 
and essays. Besides these exercises, a man- 
uscript paper was occasionally issued by 
the members, the editorial department being 
usually conducted by some one of the lady 
members. The debates were often spirited, 
but they were carried forward in the best of 
humor, and the keenest of interest was man- 
ifested by all who were present. The meet- 
ings were free to all who cared to attend, 
and there was always a good audience. 
Among the most active members were three 
young men who followed "Old Glory" into 
the Civil war and gave their lives, either 
directly or indirectly, to their country's 
cause. I refer to L. \\'. Dailey, J. Sharpe 
Wisner and J. Parrish Blacklege. They are 
worthy of mention in this article. L. W. 
Dailey, a brother of our fellow-citizen. 
Judge J. S. Dailey. was born in this county 
and, for the most part of his life, was a res- 
ident of Blufifton. He was fine-looking, in- 
telligent and affable, and was a favorite 
with his companions and in social circles. 
.'\fter he had mastered the branches which 
embraced the curriculum of studies which 
were then taught in the Blufifton schools, 
he entered the Indiana University to pursue 
a course in law. In less than a year after- 



wards the call for volunteers was issued by 
President Lincoln, and young Dailey was 
among the first to don the soldier's blue and 
march away to the scene of strife. He won 
his way to promotion, and, but for the acci- 
dental discharge of his rifle, which caused a 
wound in his foot, causing his death, he 
would have had greater honors conferred 
upon him. The wound was not considered 
dangerous at first, but for lack of proper 
surgical care it proved mortal, and, after 
encountering almost insurmountable diffi- 
culties, his second lieutenant succeeded in 
accompanying his remains to his father's 
home. He was the first soldier who was 
buried with the honors of war in this 
county, and, although the weather was de- 
cidedly inclement, and the roads were al- 
most impassable, the people of the county 
were well represented at his grave to give 
honor to the bright young man who had so 
prematurely met his death. J. Sharpe Wis- 
ner was the son of Thomas L. Wisner and 
wife, who removed here from Ohio when 
their children were quite young. Sharpe, 
as he was usually called, was a bright schol- 
ar and won his way to precedence in his 
classes. He was also a practical printer, 
having learned the trade at the Banner of- 
fice. As a member of the literary society 
he was very efficient. Occasionally he is- 
sued from the Banner office a small paper 
which was full of witty paragraphs, and 
which helped to keep up the interest of the 
members of the society. He also followed 
"Old Glory" to the seat of war, and, after 
braving danger and privation, came home 
at the close of the war broken down in 
health. A few years later he was kissed to 
sleep by the death angel, and, "under the 
low, green tent whose curtain knows no 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



67 



outward swing," in Fairview cemetery his 
dust now reposes. At each returning anni- 
versary of Decoration day loving and loyal 
hands crown his resting place with God's 
sweet messengers of love, the fair and fra- 
grant flowers. J. Parrish Blacklege was 
a native of Marietta, Ohio, but came with 
his father's family to Bluffton in the early 
'fifties. He was a quiet young man of ex- 
emplary habits and a consistent and active 
member of the Methodist church. He was 
a fluent speaker, and in his easy, gentleman- 
ly way he was one of the most efficient 
members of the literary society. Some time 
after the other two young men took their 
lives in their hands and marched away to 
the front, young Blacklege also volun- 
teered. Not long afterwards he was killed 
in an engagement with the enemy, and he 
now "sleeps the sleep that knows no wak- 
ing" in an unmarked soldier's grave. Cap- 
tain E. Y. Sturgis was another one of the 
members of the literary society who donned 
the blue, and he is now the only one of the 
soldier members who is living here. 

When war spread its dark pall over the 
country, and almost every family was rep- 
resented in the army, social and literary 
gatherings were greatly interfered with. 
While the men were drilling, the women 
were preparing and sending supplies to 
their absent ones, and looking after the fam- 
ilies of those who had lain down their lives 
on the field of battle. When peace again 
spread her white wings over this mourning 
country, there was a general revival of busi- 
ness, amusements and educational pursuits. 
Again throughout Wells county the halls, 
churches and school houses echoed with 
speeches, songs and music. Professional men 
joined the ranks, and the teachers insisted 



upon their pupils devoting some time to lit- 
erature as well as in digging deep into the 
mysteries of science. Many of the teachers 
of the country schools took one or two 
terms of instruction in the Bluffton school, 
and became active and enthusiastic members 
of the flourishing literary society. Being 
thus impressed with the importance of a 
higher education, they urged their pupils 
to read carefully the writings of the best 
authors of the time. They further 
prompted them to write or recite in their 
own language the choice thoughts which 
they had gleaned from the printed pages. 
The result has been just what might have 
been expected. The Hoosier dialect is sel- 
dom heard, and backwoodsmen are few and 
far between. 

The pulpits of today are filled by men 
who are not only theological scholars, but 
are also thoroughly familiar with current 
events, and possess a liberal knowledge of 
the writings of our most popular authors. 
Our pulpit teachers impress their congrega- 
tions as being men who believe it to be the 
duty of every one to cultivate to the utmost 
of his or her ability all of the talents with 
which the Maker of the universe has liber- 
ally endowed them. Their teachings are 
emphasized by precept and example, and 
they are, many of them, ready writers. 

It has been very truly said that a home 
without a newspaper is one of literary dark- 
ness. To the honor of this county it can be 
said that there are but few homes within its 
boundaries where a newspaper does not find 
its way. These "black missionaries" cre- 
ate and perpetuate within the minds of their 
readers a desire for a more extensive 
knowledge of the best literature of the day. 
Since free rural mail deliverv has been estab- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



lished, all of the up-to-date fanners are 
kept in touch with the times hy the receipt 
of one or more daiUes, besides \veekl_v news- 
papers and magazines. A visit to the ses- 
sions of the Farmers' Listitute discloses the 
fact that the fanners" families are both 
readers and thinkers, and that they are pro- 
gressing rapidly. 

Of late years the public literary societies 
and debating clubs ha\e lieen gi\ing way 
to reading circles and clubs which are 
limited in tlieir membership. These circles 
and clubs have inspired their members to 
pursue a course of study which has de- 
veloped latent literary talent that is yielding 
a rich har\'est. 

Since literature has been added to the 
curriculum of studies of our public schools, 
on the shelves of our school libraries are to 
be found the works of our most noted auth- 
ors of poetry and prose, and that they are 
carefully read and utilized is a fact worthy 
of mention. It is impossible for me to es- 
timate the number of volumes in the public 
school libraries throughout the count}', but 
the BlufYton library alone contains over five 
thousand volumes. Man}- of these are from 
the McClure library, while additions arc 
made to the new books almost every year. 
In reviewing the progress which has been 
made in literature in this county during the 
last half century, while it would seem to be 
miraculous to one of our dead and gone 
pioneers, it is in strict keeping with the ap- 
pearance of prosperity which is manifested 
in all of the different lines of life. 

A ride over the countr}-, where hand- 
some farm houses, which are supplied witli 
all of the modern conveniences, have super- 
seded the log cabins of "lang syne," we 
look for and find culture within their walls. 



Handsome brick school houses, supplied 
with all kinds of aids necessary for teaching 
and illustrating the topics which are taught 
in the public schools, dot the country here 
and there, and are a credit to the community 
which supports them. Fine, well-kept 
gravel roads throughout the count}' have 
superseded corduroy roads and fathomless 
mud holes, and it is a source of pleasure to 
take a dri\-e ortv these pleasant thorough- 
fares. Farm telephones, with fuel and il- 
luminating gas simplifies the work and 
more time for reading and study is left to 
those who are anxious to move along with 
"the march of time." 

With all of these outward impro\'ements, 
our pastors, our teachers, our lawyers, our 
physicians, our business men and our me- 
chanics have taken Fxcelsior for their 
motto, and it is their aim and purpose to 
win. At each succeeding annual commence- 
ment of all schools throughout the county 
higher attainments are manifested, and our 
young people are making rapid strides in 
literary, scientific and musical advance- 
ment. 

The pastor who rode over miles of pole- 
bridges to meet his appointment, and who 
carried his tuning fork "to pitch the tunes," 
and who also lined the hymns, has already 
passed into memory as some fragment of 
early history. The teacher who, besides 
teaching the rudimentary branches, car- 
ried as a close companion the rod of correc- 
tion, and daily illustrated his lectures by 
cuts upon the persons of his pupils, is now 
as obsolete as Icbabod Crane, who is so 
graphically described by Washington Ir- 
ving. 

If. as Patrick Henry said, ''we have no 
means of judging the future but by the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



69 



past," we may expect much from the com- future the laurels of fame will pass to the 
ing citizens of this county. The young peo- | coming men and women, and that those 
pie have already demonstrated their mental i who have won some celebrity in the literary 
ability, much of which is of a high order, j world, and who have paved the way for 
and which gives them rank with the young greater advancement, will soon cease to 
|)er)i)le of any county in the state of Indi- ! shine and will be known to the world only 
ana. It is safe to promise that in the near { as back numbers. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 



BY HON. JOSEPH S. DAILEY. 



The first term of the circuit court of 
Wells county convened at the residence of 
Robert C. Bennett, where Bluffton is now 
situated, in October, 1837, with the follow- 
ing officers : Charles W. Ewing, judge ; 
John Swett and James R. Greer, associate 
judges; Bowen Hale, clerk; Isaac Covert, 
sheriff, and Thomas Johnson, prosecuting 
attorney. The first grand jury consisted of 
Abram McDowell, James Guthrie, James 
Mace, James Wright, James Cobbum, 
David Bennett, Christopher Miller, William 
Ray, William P. Davis, Henry Mace, Jere- 
miah Masterson, Nathaniel Batson, Isaac 
Dewitt, James Harvey, Isaac Wright, Isaac 
Lewellyn, Joseph Jones and Buell Baldwin ; 
the petit jurors were Joseph Sparks, John 
McCullick, Noah Tobey, John Seek, Newton 
Putnam, Allen Norcross, Andrew Brown, 
John Higgins, John Casebeer, Goldsmith 
Baldwin, Samuel Wallace, Conklin Master- 
son, Henry Miller, Henry Myers, Daniel 
Miller, John C. Whitman, James Jarrett, 
David Snyder, Mason Powell, William 
Concannon, Samuel Myers, Adam Miller, 
John Swett and James Greer, all of whom 
are now dead. The grand jurors previous 
to the April term, 1839, failed to present 



any one for crime, but at this term Jehu T. 
Elliott, of New Castle, Indiana, afterwards 
supreme judge, appeared as prosecuting at- 
torney and the first indictments in the 
county were then found and presented and 
the court made the following entry in rela- 
tion thereto, which will be found on page 
21, Minute Book A: "Ordered by the court 
that in all bills of indictment found at the 
present term of this court for assaults and 
batteries, betting and selling and giving 
spirits to Indians, the defendants be re- 
quired to enter into recognizance in the sum 
of twenty-five dollars each and security in 
a like sum and in all indictments for grand 
larceny and for suffering gaming in grocery 
or taverns the defendants be required to en- 
ter into recognizance in the sum of one hun- 
dred dollars each with security in like sum." 
At the September term, 1839, Judge 
Ewing was succeeded on the bench by Hon. 
David Kilgore, df Muncie, afterward a 
speaker of the Indiana house of representa- 
tives and subsequently for two terms a 
member of congress from the "Old Burnt 
Dictrict." J^t this term, among others, the 
famous Moses Jenkinson, Judge Jeremiah 
Smith, of Winchester, and Judge Jacob B. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



71 



Julian, recently of Indianapolis, were ad- 
mitted to practice in this court. The first 
criminal proceeding tried was against Asso- 
ciate Judge James R. Greer, who entered 
a plea of guilty to a charge of betting and 
was fined one dollar. It seems that the 
judges in those days dealt out justice impar- 
tially and in proof of this made one of their 
own number the first victim of the majesty 
of the law. At this term John Brownlee, of 
Grant county, since a leading member of 
the Marion bar, and who is now deceased, 
was the prosecuting attorney. The crim- 
inal docket contained fifty-two causes, of 
which forty-five were for betting, and most 
of the prominent citizens of the count}' were 
placed under indictment. 

At the March term, 1840, the late Jere- 
miah Smith appeared as prosecuting attor- 
ney. 

At the October term, 1840, the first di- 
vorce petition in the county was filed. Prior 
to that event domestic bliss and felicity 
seem to have reigned supreme. 

At the April term. 1841, Sahuel Og- 
den succeeded John Swett as associate 
judge, and at this term John P. Greer, who 
departed this life at an advanced age at To- 
peka, Kansas, became the first^ resident 
member of the Wells county bar and was 
one of its leading lights until his removal 
from the state in 1857. The first entry in 
the probate docket of the county was made 
by William- Wallace, probate judge, on No- 
vember 10, 1841, ordering a writ of habeas 
corpus for the body of one Martin Perry. 

At the March term, 1842, James W. Bor- 
den, of Fort Wayne, succeeded to the 
judgeship and Lucien P. Ferry, of the same 
place, appeared as prosecuting attorney. 
Borden, though only a moderate lawyer, 



was a man of fine physical proportions, an 
excellent conversationalist and spent the 
subsequent years of his life in office, having 
been a member of the constitutional conven- 
tion, judge of the court of common pleas, 
minister to the Sandwich Islands under 
Buchanan, again common pleas judge, and 
he died in the harness as judge of the Allen 
criminal court, many years ago. The court 
as then constituted had an equitable but ar- 
bitrary way of apportioning costs, and at 
this term, in the case of "Andy" Ferguson 
vs. Almon Case, where the jury found for 
the plaintiff in the sum of two dollars, the 
court ordered "that each party pay one-half 
the costs." 

The first attorney to locate in Bluffton 
was James Brownlee, afterwards a prom- 
inent member of the Grant county bar. He 
was then young in years, youthful in ap- 
pearance and it was his first venture in the 
legal profession. He swung his "shingle" 
in the clerk's office, which was surrounded 
by woods with a trail leading up to it. Art- 
ists were scarce in those days and Mr. 
Brownlee painted his own sign which read 
as follows : "James Brownlee, Eterny at 
Law." It had been up but a short time 
when a pioneer, more scholarly than the 
rest, suggested that he thought there was 
something wrong in the orthography and 
upon investigation this was discovered to 
be true. It was then finally decided that 
the counsellor who could not spell the word 
"attorney" knew little about his profession 
and the youthful barrister became the sub- 
ject of ridicule. They made his life so un- 
cornfortable that he "folded his tent" and 
sought a new field of usefulness. 

At the September term, 1842, the name 
of Horatio M. Slack, the second resident 



72 



WELLS COUNTY, n\DL'\NA. 



attorney of Bluffton, appears of record. At 
this term William H. Coombs, of Fort 
Wayne, appeared as prosecuting attorney. 
After having practiced at that city for more 
than one-half a century, he rounded off his 
career by a brief service on the supreme 
bench of this state. During this term the 
judge and ex- Prosecuting Attorney Ferry 
were jointly indicted on the novel charge of 
"aiding in the escape of prisoner." 

At the March term, 1843, tbe venerable 
David FI. Colerick appeared as prosecuting 
attorne}-. He was at his prime, a man of 
excellent delivery and surpassing eloquence, 
and several of his sons haNc inherited great 
ability in these respects. At this term, John 
W. Dawson, afterward editor of the Fort 
Wayne Times, and subsequently governor 
of Utah territory, was admitted to the bar. 
lie was a ready writer and a strong, ag- 
gressive man. Init his pilgrimage closed 
more than twenty years ago. Two impor- 
tant events occurred at this term, the con- 
viction of Associate Justice Greer for \-iolat- 
ing the revenue laws, and the indictment of 
S. G. Upton, the third resident attorney ad- 
mitted to the bar, for barratry, but to the 
credit of the fraternity let it be said that he 
was acquitted of the charge. 

At the September term. 1843. Robert B. 
Turner became associate judge with Greer, 
and Lewis Lynn was then sheriff. 

At the March term, 1844, Lysander C. 
Jacoby was special prosecutor. During this 
session Ezekiel Parker was convicted of 
obtaining goods under false pretense, which 
was the first successful prosecution of felony 
in the county. 

At the March term. 1845, Jonathan Gar- 
ton, the maternal grandfather of the writer, 
became associate judge and continued in 



this capacity with Greer until the office was 
abolished by the adoption of the new consti- 
tution in 1852. At this term James R. 
Slack, a Union general during the Rebellion 
and afterward judge of the twenty-eighth 
judicial circuit, acted as prosecuting attor- 
ney. He was a man of rugged sense and 
old-fashioned honesty. 

At the August term. 1845, and ALirch 
term, 1846, Elza A. McMahon, afterward 
judge of this circuit, but long a resident of 
Minnesota, acted as prosecuting attorney. 

In 1847 Isaac Covert again became sher- 
iff, but with this exception the same judge 
and officers continued until March. 1848, 
\\hen Samuel G. L'pton was commissioned 
prosecuting attorney. He was a straight, 
dignified New Yorker, prematurely gray, 
who thought his frosty head was the re- 
sult , of hard study, but who was never a 
radical lawyer. He engaged for a number 
of years in editing and publishing the Bluff- 
ton Banner, and was for a time postmaster 
at this place, but ended his career a number 
of years ago at New Orleans, Louisiana, at 
the advanced age of se\'enty-five years. In 
1849 Isaac Covert retired from the shriev- 
alty and was succeeded by Amza White. 

At the December term, 1849, James L. 
Worden acted as prosecuting attorney. He 
was born in Massachusetts in 18 19. but lost 
his father in infancy, removed to Portage 
county, Ohio, when a child and was de- 
prived of the advantages of an early educa- 
tion. He was largely self-taught, and re- 
moved to Indiana, during his early man- 
hood, where, by his real merits, he gained 
rapid promotions, first to the office of pros- 
ecuting attorney, next to the nisi prius 
bench, and afterward to the supreme bench 
of Indiana, where he remained nineteen 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



73 



years. His opinions were so much regarded 
that he was styled the ''old reliable" and the 
"John Marshall" of that court. 

At the March term, 1851. the accom- 
plished John R. Coffroth. since deceased, 
was admitted to practice here. Judges L. 
M. Xinde. William W. Carson, Jacob M. 
Haynes and Isaac Jenkinson were admitted 
at the same time, and Benedict Burns was 
added as the fourth resident member of the 
bar. 

At the March term, 185J. Amza White, 
an original character in his day, and Arthur 
W. Sanford. afterward a prominent clergy- 
man of Marion. Indiana, were admitted to 
the force of local counsel. At this term 
James L. W'orden acted as prosecuting at- 
torney, and in March, 1853. he produced 
his commission and qualified as prosecutor. 
^^'illiam Porter was then added to the list 
of resident attorneys. In the earlier court 
practice they disposed of business in a sum- 
mary manner after the fashion of the old 
English "dusty foot" court, and while it 
was rough on the victim, little complaint 
was made of the law's delay. One notable 
instance of this kind was the trial of Detro 
and Brown, in 185 1, for the larceny of 
horses belonging to Daniel Miller. They 
had taken the stolen property into Ohio. 
The vigilance committee got upon their 
trail, pursued them to near the city of Day- 
ton, captured the thieves with their plun- 
der, and recrossed the state line without the 
aid of a requisition, brought the captives to 
Bluffton. and on the da}- of their arrival 
they were indicted, tried, convicted and 
sentenced to the penitentiary, and on 
the morning of the next day the sheriff 
startefl with his prisoners to Jeffersonville 
to execute the judgment of the court. It 



was claimed that this was done in obedience 
to that clause in the organic law of the state 
which declares that "justice shall be admin- 
istered speedily and withmit delay." 

At the August term, 1853, Edwin R. 
Wilson, an expert and aggressive young- 
attorney, was admitted and became a resi^ 
dent member of the bar. Michael Miller 
succeeded White as sheriff, and at the Feb- 
ruary term, 1854. Edwin R. Wilson was 
prosecuting attorney. 

At the February term, 1855, Edwin R. 
^Vilson■s brother, John L. Wilson, subse- 
cjuently on the common pleas bench at Mor- 
row, Ohio, was placed on the roll of local 
attorneys, and also the name of John N. 
Reynolds, an auctioneer and pettifogger of 
great tact, who "lost his grip" when he 
reached the circuit court. 

At the .-\ugust term, 1855, James L. 
\\'orilen qualified as circuit judge, and in 
the November following, George ^McDow- 
ell, a brother of the late Hon. James F. AIc- 
Dowell, of ;\Iarion, succeeded Bowen Hale 
as clerk, the latter having retired after a 
service of seventeen years. 

At the February term, 1857, Robert E. 
Hutcheson. afterward somewhat distin- 
guished at the Columbus, Ohio, bar, was 
added to the list of resident counsel, but he 
remained only a brief time. At this term, 
David T. Smith, who had been educated at 
Oxford, Ohio, came from Richmond to 
Bluffton to engage in the practice of law. 
He brought with him an excellent law 
library, and was so(jn in the enjoyment of a 
lucrative practice. In the midst of his suc- 
cess he became a victim for a time of chronic 
alcoholism, which nearly wrought his ruin. 
\\'hen in his cups he was given to flights of 
fanc}- in his speeches that astonished the 



74 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



natives. In his peroration after an exhaus- 
tive argument in defense of a dient charged 
with a felony, he said: "Gentlemen of the 
jury, when this all-important trial is over, 
I hope I shall have the pleasure of taking 
my old friend and client by the hand and of 
congratulating him upon his escape from 
the just penalty of the law." On another 
occasion at a jubilee held on the public 
square, after his party had been successful 
in the state election, he used this significant 
language: "Ladies and gentlemen, our 
opponents in the last campaign have lied, 
stolen and cheated, and we have beaten 
them at their own game."' Mr. Smith, 
many years before his demise, reformed, 
became an active member of a Christian 
church, was mayor of the city of Bluffton, 
and later a justice of the peace, and died 
respected and esteemed !)}• the entire com- 
munity. 

.\t the February term. 1859, Reuben J. 
Dawson, of Albion, Indiana, became circuit 
judge, James F. McDowell, subsequently 
a member of congress from this district and 
a man of charming eloquence, was admitted 
to the bar, and George S. Brown, a schol- 
arly man of fine appearance, located here and 
was also admitted to the bar. He subse- 
quently located at Huntington, Indiana, 
where he for a time Avas engaged in busi- 
ness with Col. L. P. Alilligan, one of the 
finest logicians of the Wabash valley, and 
from there he removed to Topeka, Kansas, 
where, in the midst of a growing practice, 
he died of blood cancer. During this year, 
Newton Burwell, a fluent speaker, ready 
writer and well-read man, was admitted to 
the bar. and for many years was identified 
with much important litigation in our 
courts, but the hand of business adversity 



was laid heavily upon him, and after follow- 
ing a diversity of pursuits and rowing 
against the tide, he at last took up the line 
of march and drifted to Rapid City, Da- 
kota. He is now engaged in the practice of 
his profession at Enid, Oklahoma. At this 
term Nicholas Van Horn commenced the 
practice here, but being of a somewhat no- 
tional disposition, he has been alternately 
lawyer, preacher and doctor, and is now 
trying his hand at a variety of vocations in 
Texas. During this term one of the most 
important criminal trials occurred that has 
ever transpired in the history of the county. 
One Moses T. ]\Iurphy, a merchant of Vera 
Cruz, had gone into the country for the pur- 
pose of procuring teams to haul wheat to 
Fort Wayne, and while in the woods, be- 
tween the residences of John Linn and Har- 
vey Risley, he was slain. His continued 
absence excited the suspicion of his family, 
friends and neighbors, who instituted a 
thorough search for him. His body was 
found with marks of violence upon his head, 
indicating that he had been felled by some 
blunt instrument, and upon closer inspection 
it was ascertained that his jugular vein was 
severed. A club bespattered with blood 
and hair was also found near the body. Sus- 
picion at once, whether justly or otherwise, 
rested upon Dr. William Freeman, who was 
Mr. Murphy's neighbor. He was arrested 
and indicted for the crime, and, after an 
exciting trial, was acquitted. The case was 
ably prosecuted by Sanford J. Stoughton, 
prosecuting attorney, assisted by Messrs. 
Ninde and Wilson, and was defended by 
Messrs. McDowell, Milligan and Coffroth. 
Edwin R. Wilson became judge at the De- 
cember term, 1858, and James M. Defrees, 
of Goshen, who long since died, prosecuting 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



75 



attorney. Thomas L. Wisner became clerk 
in November, 1859. 

At the February term, i860, John Cole- 
rick, a man of magnetic and persuasive elo- 
quence, succeeded to the office of prosecu- 
tor, and in February. 1861, was in turn 
succeeded by Augtistus A. Chapin, recent 
judge of the Allen superior court. 

On August 23, 1861, Thomas W.Wilson 
became a member of this bar, and Nathaniel 
DeHaven became sheriff. In November, 
1864, James H. Schell became prosecutor 
and in the following February Robert Low- 
ry, a member of the forty-eighth and forty- 
ninth congresses from the Fort Wayne dis- 
trict, took his seat upon the bench. The 
i-bief business transacted in the courts of 
this county from the years 1861 to 1867 
inclusive was by some general divorce 
agents residing at Fort Wayne, who oper- 
ated for the middle, eastern and New Eng- 
land states and Canada. Divorces under 
tlie lax laws then existing were ground out 
by the half-bushel. 

During the subsequent years of our juris- 
prudence the circuit court has been pro- 
vided with officers as follows: Judges — 
Robert Lowry, until April, 1873, when he 
was succeeded by Jacob M. Haynes, who 
continued until November, 1878, when his 
successor, James R. Bobo, qualified and con- 
tinued until April. 1885, at which time he 
was succeeded by Henry B. Sayler, who re- 
tired from the bench November 19, 1888, 
and was in turn succeeded by Joseph S. 
Dailey. The latter was promoted to the 
supreme bench of Indiana, on July 25, 1893, 
to fill the unexpired term of Judge Olds, 
and remained thereon until January 8, 1895. 
Edwin C. Vaughn, present incumbent, was 
appointed his successor as judge of the 



Wells county circuit court. James R. Mc- 
Cleery succeeded Wisner as clerk in Novem- 
ber, 1867, and continued as such until his 
death in April, 1874. Thomas L. Wisner was 
commissioned as his successor and held until 
November, 1874. William J. Craig was 
clerk from November, 1874, to November, 
1882. His successor, John H. Ormsby, 
held this office from November, 1882, to 
November, 1890; Albert Oppenheim, from 
November, 1890, to November, 1894; Rob- 
ert F. Cummins, from November, 1894, to 
November, 1898, and was succeeded by the- 
present incumbent, James C. Hatfield, at 
said time. 

INIanual Chalfant was sheriff from 1865 
to 1867 and from 1869 to 1871; Isaiah J. 
Covault, from 1867 to 1869 and from 1871 
to 1873 ; William W. Weisell, from 1873 to 
1877; James B. Plessinger, from 1877 to 
1881; Marcellus M. Justus, from 1881 to 
1885 ; Henry Kirkwood, from 1885 to 
1889; James T. Dailey, from 1889 to 1893; 
George W. Huffman, from 1893 to 1897; 
William Higgins, from 1897 to January i, 
1902, and since then James R. Johnston has 
been sheriff. This court has been supplied 
with the following prosecutors during the 
interim named: Thomas W. Wilson, from 
November, 1866, to November, 1868; Jos- 
eph S. Dailey. from November, 1868, to 
November. 1876; Joshua Bishop, from 
November, 1876. to November, 1877: 
Luther I. Baker, from November, 1877, to 
November, 1880; John T. France, from 
November, 1880, to November, 1884; Ed- 
win C. Vaughn, from November, 1884, to 
November, 1888; William A. Branyan, 
from November, 1888, to November. 1892; 
Samuel E. Cook, from November, 1892, to 
July, 1893 ; Jay A. Hindman, from 1893 to 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



1896: Aaron J\I. Waltz, fmm November, 
1896, to November, lyoo, since which time 
John Burns has ocuupied this position. 

.\t the November term. 1870, James Gil- 
len was tried for the murder of WilHam J. 
McCleery. but was convicted of manslaugh- 
ter and sentenced to the penitentiary for 
tweh-e years. It was a case that created 
great excitement and much interest, and 
was ably conducted on both sides, by coun- 
sel many of whom were eminent in the law. 

The usually quiet and law-abiding county 
of Wells has been at times under great com- 
motion by reason of homicides in her midst. 
In her history John Strode was tried for the 
murder of Daniel Miller, an old pioneer of 
the county ; Mary M. Eddingfield for the 
alleged poisoning of her children ; Frank 
Hoopengarner, for killing Needham Mc- 
Bride; George W. King, for killing" Martin 
Thayer; WilHam Walker, for slaying 
George Shaw^ and John Siberry, for the 
killing of his wife. Some of these cases 
were of great moral turpitude, and are a 
blotch upon the otherwise fair escutcheon 
of the county : but a portion of the cases had 
many extenuating circumstances, and in the 
case of Hoopengarner the jury wisely 
found it to be one of justifiable homicide. 

We had the anomaly from 1853 to 1873 
of a court of common pleas, erected and or- 
ganized with almost concurrent jurisdiction 
with the circuit court, and during its exist- 
ence it contained the following officers : 
Wilson B. Loughridge was judge from 
its organization to January, 1861, when he 
was succeeded by Joseph Brackenridge, who 
held until January, 1865 ; James W. Bor- 
den, from January, 1865, until January, 
1868, when Robert S. Taylor, one of the 
most learned and best equipped attorneys 



of this state, was commissioned his succes- 
sor. David Studabaker. of Decatur, an 
able lawyer, succeeded him in January, 
1869, but resigned in September, 1869, 
wdien Robert S. Taylor became his succes- 
sor. In January, 1871, William W. Carson 
succeeded Judge Taylor, who in turn was 
succeeded liy Samuel E. Sinclair, in Janu- 
ary. 1873, the latter holding this position 
until it was abolished as a needless expense 
aliout three months thereafter. The prose- 
cutors of this court were Benedict Burns, 
Newton Burwell, James G. Smith, David 
T. Smith, David Colerick, Joseph S. Dailey 
and Benjamin F. Ibach. 

During the first thirt}- years of our comi- 
ty's history the business transactions were 
limited, and one order book of fhis court 
embraces all the civil and criminal causes 
there tried from its organization up to and 
including the January term, 1859. During 
the subsequent period of our jurisprudence 
several parties were admitted to the local 
bar and for a time were engaged as coun- 
sel who no longer respond to the roll call. 
Among these was Thomas A. R. Eaton, 
now deceased: William J. Bright, who 
edited the Wells County Union. He was 
"bright" by name and nature, but died at 
the beginning of his career in our midst. In 
1863 Daniel J. Callen. an eloquent orator 
and "word-painter," came and practiced 
here, but soon returned to his native state, 
Ohio, which he for a time served with dis- 
tinction in her legislative council. Mr. 
Callen has been in his gra\e for the last 
decade. Benjamin G. Shinn, now a prom- 
ineiit law-yer of Hartford City, was admit- 
ted to practice here on September 19, 1865. 
Hon. Daniel Waugh, former judge of the 
Tipton and Howard circuit, and more re- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



77 



cently a member of congress, was admitted 
May 12. 1866, with the lamented Jacob J. 
Todd and James A. Cotton, now of New 
Castle, Lidiana, May 20. 1867. William J. 
Davis, a graduate of Washington College, 
Pennsylvania, located here and was admitted 
to the bar in 187 1 : later he removed to Go- 
shen. He is now a prominent attorney of 
that city and served his count}- with dis- 
tinction in the state senate. Capt. William 
J. Hilligass. who recently died at Muncie, 
was admitted in the succeeding year. Jos- 
eph W. Ady. who afterwards enjoyed a 
state-wide reputation in Kansas, and was 
Harrison's United States attorney for that 
state, was reared in Wells county, and ad- 
mitted to this bar. but shortly thereafter 
nbeyed the injunction of the "white-hatted 
l)hiliisiipher" who said, "^'oung man. go 
west." 

About the year 1870 Augustus N. Mar- 
tin, a young man from Butler county. Penn- 
sylvania, made his advent into this com- 
munity, began the study of law with Jacob 
J. Todd, and shortly thereafter became his 
partner in business. He served his adopted 
county in the house of representatives of 
this state from January, 1875. to January. 
1877, was for four years thereafter reporter 
of the supreme court of Indiana, and from 
1889 to 1895 was a member of the national 
congress, making for himself an excellent 
record therein. He died in 1901. 

Our present liar comprises a large per 
cent, of all the members who ever engaged 
as resident attorneys at this place, and em- 
braces the names of Joseph S. Dailey. Levi 



Mock, John K. Rinehart. James P. Hale, 
A. L. Sharpe, J. H. C. Smith, George W. 
Kimball. Abram Simmons. F. M. McFad- 
den. Charles E. Sturgis. Martin W. Wal- 
bert. George Mock. John ]\Iock. William H. 
Eichhorn. Frank C. Dailey. George A. 
Matlack. Nelson K. Todd, Augustus W. 
Hamilton. L. F. Spragi.ie and J. W. Lam- 
bright, and without particularizing or mak- 
ing any invidious distinctions, the writer 
with confidence states, that this list com- 
prises in its numbers a galaxy of attorneys 
as well qualified for the great work of the 
profession as can be found in any count}- in 
Indiana. 

Since the influx of railroads into the 
county, beginning in the autumn of 1869, 
it has nearly tripled in population and ma- 
terial wealth : two thousand miles of open 
ditches have been constructed and three 
hundred miles of free gravel roads. 

Many large manufacturing industries 
have been established in Blufifton. and all 
kinds of commercial pursuits are being con- 
ducted and the county is rapidly gaining a 
front rank as an educated, enterprising and 
public-spirited locality : as a result of the 
growth and development of her material in- 
terests, much litigation has necessarily fol- 
lowed in the last twenty years. But the 
\\'ells county bar have been erjual to the 
emergenc}-. fully equipped for the great 
work they have been called upon to per- 
form, and in their efforts to enforce rights 
and redress wrongs, they have been aided at 
all times by an intelligent and incorruptible 
judiciary. 



MEDICAL HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY. 



BY GEORGE E. FULTON, M. D. 
Ex-Member Indiana State Legislature ; Ex-Health Officer 



I WelLs Coiintv 



The medical history of Wells county has 
to do not only with the physicians who from 
the earliest pioneer days applied the healing 
art as best they could under the adverse 
circumstances of that early epoch, but deals 
with the people, the climate and the geo- 
graphical aspect of the territory out of which 
the county was carved by chain and com- 
pass. With a state and county map lying 
before me and with a fair practical knowl- 
edge of the surroundings from traveling at 
various times over the entire county, I 
would say that, approximately estimated. 
Wells county is fourteen miles from east to 
west and twenty-four miles from north to 
south, with the addition thereto of Jackson 
township on the extreme southwest with an 
area of six miles square, tlie said township 
being the equal in all respects to the rest of 
the county. The area embraced within the 
rugged outlines given is largely a level tract, 
covered originally with dense forest and in 
the low marshy lands with an exuberant 
growth of vegetation. The Wabash river, 
the main source of water supply, courses di- 
agonally across the county from the south- 



east to the northwest ; the second largest 
stream, the Salamonie river, crosses the 
southwestern portion of the county ; both of 
these streams are splendid water-ways, the 
bed of each stream is underlaid with a fine 
quality of lime-stone rock, sand and gravel, 
insuring abundance of building material for 
domestic and public purposes, while the 
water of said streams is pure and whole- 
some for man and beast. Other and smaller 
streams are frequent in the northern and 
south-central portions of the county. In the 
former. Eight-mile river, or creek, might 
be mentioned (now transformed into a 
large public ditch and the waste lands re- 
claimed to agricultural purposes). This 
stream had scarcely any channel or outlet 
and comprised originally a low marshy tract 
of land that lay for a long period of time 
practically useless, except as a rendez- 
vous in the heated season for frogs, mosqui- 
toes, stray cattle and wild hogs, and last, but 
not least, as a stronghold for the origin and 
spread of malarial germs, resulting in fever 
and ague. This area, like many others 
A\here the lowlands existed and the water 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



79 



was more or less stagnant during the heated 
and ensuing autumnal season of the year, 
became the battleground of the "pioneer 
doctor." His services, with a liberal sup- 
ply of quinine, were in constant demand in 
every cabin, as malaria, resulting in chills 
and fever, afflicted almost every person, al- 
though not so virulent and destructive to 
life as many of the diseases that now visit 
the older and more densely populated com- 
munities, such as diphtheria, small-pox, 
scarlet fever, cerebro-spinal meningitis and 
typhoid fever. IMalaria was not so destruct- 
ive to life and devastating to the community 
as these, yet it was a great source of suffer- 
ing and its miasm caused many deaths and 
was a barrier in the way of the health and 
progress of the unacclimated pioneer inhabi- 
tants of the new country which was just 
emerging from the wilderness of chaos. 

All honor to the early practitioner of 
medicine who braved the storms and plung- 
ed into the dense forests with horse and 
spur and pillbags, winding his way by bridle 
path and blazed trees, and at times plung- 
ing his horse into swollen streams or cross- 
ing dangerous bridges, before arriving on 
his mission of healing at the little cabin in 
the "open" or "clearing." These were the 
days of marked hospitality and nothing was 
too good for the doctor or preacher, possibly 
the only visitors to enter the house for 
months- at a time, to cheer and comfort the 
hearts of the settlers. 

The twin professions, medicine and 
theology, have ever gone hand in hand and 
have served well their day and generation, 
from the earliest dawn to the present dav. 
and their responsibility and prominent parts 
enacted in the drama of life are ever widen- 
ing, ever increasing and must continue to do 



so while the world and the race lasts. With 
the foregoing as a ground work for the 
scenes and incidents that were to play a 
prominent part in the moral and physical 
development and life of the county, the tide 
of emigration began to flow steadily in and 
soon in many places the dense forest was 
felled by the woodman's ax and by and by 
in place thereof appeared fields of waving 
grain and pasture lands, dotted here and 
there with bleating sheep and lowing cattle, 
while orchard and vineyard were wont to 
fling out their blossoms and sweet perfume 
to laden the invigorating air. The best of 
all and crowning hope of the land, the 
school house and academy, appeared, gar- 
landed round about as with a girdle by the 
new generation of boys and girls, whose 
merry laughter, ringing voices, romp and 
frolic would seem to drive care and trouble 
forever to the remotest caverns of the earth. 
In these primitive institutions of learning 
the youthful brain was tutored with useful 
knowledge and the character was formu- 
lated and stocked with the underlying prin- 
ciples essential to good government, viz: 
industry, truth and sobriety. 

A good start is nine-tenths already won 
in life's battle. Surely the ultimate growth 
and achievement all along the line in the 
multitude of afifairs in the county indicate 
that the first settlers were of the right kind 
of stock and gave to us the right kind of a 
start, and so it then devolved upon us to 
carry out and fulfill, building upon the bed- 
rock foundation already laid for us. 

EARLY MEDICAL STATISTICS. 

From a personal interview with some 
of the pioneer citizens yet living, and others 
who have passed away, the writer has 



8o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



gleaned the following facts : Jacob R. Har- 
ve}-, who is yet living on his farm near 
Murray, informed us that he emigrated with 
his parents and settled near Murray in 1832 : 
he also stated that Allen and William Nor- 
cross settled here in 1830. Dr. John I. 
Metts. of Ossian. in an interview I held with 
him, stated that he settled in Wells county 
in 1836. These citizens reported to me that 
remnants of the Miami tribe of Indians were 
still here, but friendly in disposition. To my 
inquiry as to whether the Indians were sub- 
ject to chills and fever, they answered that 
they were. 

The first physician to settle in Wells 
county was Dr. John Knox, settling here in 
1829 on the farm subsequently owned by 
Henry Miller, near Murray. The second 
physician was Dr. Williams, who located in 
Murray in 1838. The third physician in 
the county was Dr. William Fellows, a 
regular practitioner who settled some two 
'miles south of Bluffton, on the David Studa- 
baker farm, in 1838. 

The birth of the only colored child born 
in the county occurred in BlufYton. on July 
20, 1880. 

EARLY EPIDEMICS. 

An epidemic of typhoid fever occurred 
in 1845; an epidemic of scarlet fever in 
1849; a case of cholera (Asiatic) in 1849; 
an epidemic of measles in 1849; a case of 
small pox occurred in BlufYton in 1854 : an 
epidemic of diphtheria in 1855. 

THE WELLS COUNTY MEDIC.VL SOCIETY. 

This society was organized April 9, 
1878, with the following physicians as its 
officers: President, C. T. Melsheimer; sec- 
retarv, T. H. Crosbie; treasurer, T. Horton; 



censors, B. F. Cummins, W. R. S. Clark 
and L. A. Spaulding. 

A constitution and by-laws were framed 
j-nd adopted and articles of incorporation 
■were filed and recorded within the records 
of Wells county. The organization adopted 
the code of ethics of the American Medical 
■ \ssociation and is auxiliary to the Indiana 
State Medical Society, to wdiich it sends at 
each annual meeting delegates to represent 
the county society, the said delegates having 
a voice in all the deliberations of that body. 
The object of this society is to provide 
an organization through which the "regular 
physicians" of the county may be united in 
one professional fraternity, for the purpose 
of giving frecjuent and decided expressions 
to their views and the objects of the medical 
jjrofession : to de\'el(jp more efficient means 
than we have hatl hitherto for cultivating 
and raising to a higher plain the standard 
of medical knowledge ; for exciting and en- 
couraging unity of purpose among the 
members ; for enlightening and directing 
public opinion in reference to the duties, re- 
sponsibilities and requirements of medical 
men ; and for the promotion of all measures 
calculated to ameliorate the suffering and to 
improve the health and protect the lives of 
the community. The society does not 
embody a large membership, there being an 
average of from fifteen to twenty members, 
owing to death, removals, etc. Being com- 
posed of the leading physicians of the county 
it is as live and active, according to its mem- 
bers, as any like organization in the state. 
Tlie meetings of the society are held the sec- 
ond Tuesday of each month in Bluffton, 
with the exception of one meeting each year 
in the month of June, which is held in 
Ossian, the second city in size in the county. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



A standing invitation to attend each meet- 
ing is always gratuitously published by the 
press of Bluffton to all who may desire an 
examination and the advice of the members 
free, in response to which numerous per- 
sons from all parts of the county attend the 
meetings and embrace the opportunity of 
benefits tendered. A prominent feature of 
the society is the preparation and reading of 
original papers or essays on subjects per- 
taining to the science of medicine and sur- 
gery b}- the members in turn as their names 
occur on the roll in alphabetical order. Fol- 
lowing the delivery of such papers there is 
a rigid discussion, approving or disapprov- 
ing in a friendly and ethical way the re- 
spective merits of each. 

It is hoped that in the future of this so- 
ciety, as in the past, persons having unusu- 
ally rare cases or ailments will seek the gra- 
tuitous advice and counsel of the society, as 
in the "multitude of counsel there is wis- 
dom." Ordinarily a layman has but little 
interest, aside from curiosity, in attending 
the meetings of physicians and surgeons : 
as the friendly combats of the intellect are 
of intense interest to the, doctors, they offer 
about as much interest to the general pub- 
lic as would a theological debate conducted 
in Sanscrit, or the tedious discussion of a 
problem in abstract mathematics. In a 
meeting uf this kind there is innumerable 
reference to such unheard-of things as 
"lesions," internal extravasations," "me- 
dullas," "cystitis," "femurs," "aneurisms," 
and "articulations." to say nothing about 
"metabolic" and "pre-systolic." 

Every organization, like every house- 
hold, has its visitations of gloom; here we 
pause and drop the sympathetic tear in 
memory of those who on earth have applied 



their last healing unction. Five of the char- 
ter members have passed away by death; 
they are Drs. C. T. Melsheimer, T. H. Cros- 
bie, W. R. S. Clark, Theodore Horton and 
B. F. Cummins. The places in the ranks 
thus sadly made vacant were rapidly re- 
filled, so far as members are concerned, but 
to say excelled or outclassed so far as merit 
is taken as the unit of standard is a question 
the answer to which I will leave to the in- 
telligent scrutiny of a just public. Under 
the limited advantages of the earh' period 
in the development and progress of the 
science, they who preceded us wrought well 
and faithfully. It therefore remains to be 
seen whether, with the advanced position 
we now occupy, if the search-light of mod- 
ern investigation and research were turned 
on, it would disclose the fact that we occupy, 
relatively speaking, a higher altitude in the 
scale of attainments or not. 

The physicians of the pioneer days 
wrought according to the light and sur- 
roundings of the period in which they lived 
and we of these latter days have only done 
as much, while those who are to succeed us 
will perform well their part and doubtless 
pierce the hidden and mysterious forces yet 
latent so far as the intellect of man is con- 
cerned, but pregnant with untold wonders in 
the universe about us. 

This is said to be the "sanitary era," and 
it is certain that no period of time prior to 
the present has witnessed the activity dis- 
played along this line of prophylaxis. Leg- 
islation, both state and national, has been 
enacted and its beneficent results have de- 
scended even down to Wells county among 
the others. These laws have been carried 
out and enforced with a fair degree of suc- 
cess, reaching from the great and populous 



82 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



municipalities down to the village and rural 
districts. As a result of the foregoing, con- 
tagious diseases such as diphtheria, scarlet 
fever, typhoid fever, small pox, and in some 
places tuberculosis and possible others, have 
been quarantined, thus saving countless 
numbers from exposure to disease and pos- 
sible death and thousands upon thousands 
of dollars to the commercial world. Wells 
county also shares in the benefits derived to 
her unfortunate subjects, in the establish- 
ing of state and county institutions which 
are maintained at great public expense for 
the comfort and relief of the insane, the 
inebriates, the epileptics and other unfor- 
tunates who come under the special care and 
protection of the benevolent institutions of 
our state. 

As to the prevention of contagious dis- 
eases, none is freighted with more import- 
ance to the human family than tuberculosis 
and its arrest and cure, if such a thing were 
possible. A number of eminent specialists 
have quite recently given valuable statistics 
relative to this disease, and have shown that 
more people die from this dread disease in 
every country on the face of the globe than 
from any other disease ; sixteen people die 
from it to each one from typhoid-fever ; 
eight to one of diphtheria. In Germany more 
die from consumption in four months than 
from yellow fever in thirty years. In the 
past year (1901) 18,763 people died of this 
disease alone in the ten principal cities of the 
United States. There is one hopeful aspect 
among the direful reports about this dis- 
ease and that is, that the universal agitation 
of the subject will result in greater informa- 
tion regarding the disease and its care and 
treatment, and thus the outlook is some- 
what better from this standpoint. Hospitals 



and sanitariums for tuberculosis patients 
should be established, and I think will be in 
the future, and maintained by county and 
state for the detention and cure of this class 
of cases. Great improvement has been made 
in the treatment and management of many 
diseases and in surgical operations and pro- 
cedure. For example the introduction of 
anti-toxine serum for the prevention and 
cure of diphtheria has actually lessened the 
mortality from that dread disease fifty per 
cent. Prof. Pasteur's discovery and method 
of innoculation for the prevention and cure 
of rabies (hydrophobia) has proven what as 
claimed for it. 

The wonderful achievement m the surgi- 
cal field is surprising and many and danger- 
ous operations only occasionally performed 
by the rarest experts in the large cities and 
liospitals are now successfully performed 
b}- the rural surgeons in every part of the 
land. 

Within the last few years the discovery 
has been made that malaria is a blood dis- 
ease due to a parasite, which gains entrance 
into the system through the bite of the 
"pesky little mosquito" and that it is not the 
result of a mysterious miasm, which was 
long thought to be the cause. Thanks to the 
scientific investigations of two English 
physicians, Drs. Manson and Ross, it has 
been clearly shown that malaria is contract- 
ed through the bite of the mosquito; when 
a person is thus bitten, certain minute 
needle-like spores pass into the poison sack, 
to be injected into the unfortunate person ; 
these spores then develop in the blood to 
full-fledged plasmodia and the malaria is 
thus communicated. This has later been 
verified by the medical records and reports 
of the Cuban war. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



83 



WIDE SPREAD EPIDEMIC OF LA GRIPPE. 

Within the last few years the entire 
country, from Maine to CaHfornia, was 
brought under the bane of la grippe, trans- 
ported into this country from Europe. The 
number of cases ran up into the hundred 
thousands in the United States. From in- 
quiry among the leading physicians in the 
county, I should judge there must have been 
from six to eight thousand persons in Wells 
county attacked with the malad}-. The mor- 
tality from the effects of the scourge was 
not so great in itself, but many people who 
were subject to serious organic diseases and 
general debility were carried away or their 
health seriously undermined as a result of 
the complications directly traceable to la 
grippe. Other epidemics have prevailed 
throughout the county in recent years and, 
while not attended by large mortality, en- 
tailed considerable distress and inconven- 
ience and expense to the public, such as clos- 
ing of the public schools and churches in 
certain localities for a time. Prominent in 
the list of diseases constituting said epi- 
demics, were measles, scarlet fever, diph- 
theria and, more recently, small-pox : of the 
latter disease there were between eighty and 
ninety cases scattered throughout this 
county; only a death or two, however, oc- 
curred and these were due, it is claimed, 
from the complications, showing the mild- 
ness of the type and the effectiveness of 
vaccination and quarantine regulations. 

CHRISTIAN- SCIEXCE, OR FAITH CURE. 

This fanatical outburst has not had any 
extensive following in this county and it is 
hoped will not. The state legislature has 
taken the matter in hand and laws have 



been enacted to protect innocent and help- 
less children and others who may come un- 
der the influences of these fanatics. The 
law was formed to meet the emergenc)^ in 
such cases and provides a penalty or punish- 
ment for anyone having a person or persons 
under their especial care or guardianship, 
who shall refuse to procure for them proper 
medical aid in sickness. This is eminently 
right and proper. There can be no objec- 
tion whatever to all the praying that may 
be done for the sick ; we must not only pray, 
but work; we must use the proper means 
and resources at our command to counter- 
act disease and cure the patient. 

The question is frequently asked by the 
laity, "Doctor, there are more diseases now 
than there used to be ; we hardly ever heard 
of heart failure or appendicitis, and how 
does it come that the people didn't use to 
have these diseases?" Then the doctor be- 
gins to look wise and assume an attitude of 
dignity, mingled, however, with a slight 
tinge of uncertainty crowded in the back 
ground, and after clearing his throat of a 
rasping impediment, ventures in response, 
"What's that you say?" "You doctors," 
retorts the patient, "have a way of finding 
out new diseases and calling them by big 
names, then the people get scared, and you 
charge them big bills. Don't you, Doc?" 
\\'hatever wrong impressions may prevail on 
this subject, the doctor explains away these 
difficult questions as best he can, informing 
the people that, as there is a constant in- 
flux of emigrants from the European and 
Asiatic nations, representing but a small 
per cent, of the thrifty and desirable on the 
one hand and on the other an innumerable 
host of the illiterate and criminal, the very 
offscourings and refuse of hundreds of 



84 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



)ears of degeneracy, from such sources of 
origin and consequent contamination of 
population come disease, pestilence and, I 
might add, crime, for crime comes in the 
main from a perverted or vitiated mind. 

The city of Bluffton, with its population 
of five thousand, has in the main excellent 
health, due largely, no douht, to its excel- 
lent hygienic surroundings. The city has 
several miles of asphalt streets and pave- 
ment, which is the most sanitary street that 
can be constructed; these streets are swept 
and kept free of dust and debris and are 
healthy. W^e also have a sewer system, put in 
at a cost to the city of seventy-five thousand 
dollars; the same empties into the Wabash 
river, which flows by and forms the north- 
ern boundary of the city. We have a splen- 
did system of public water works; the water 
is supplied by a number of deep wells drilled 
down into the rock, and is pure and of the 
most excellent quality, a fact of vital inter- 
est to the health of the citizens. On inquirv 
I ascertained from the engineer that the 
amount of water pumped for all purposes 
is six hundred and fifty thousand gallons 
per day. 

The commissioners of the county recently 
purchased a farm adjoining the poor farm 
and the good and charitable ladies of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union 
have had the farm-house on this new pur- 
chase remodeled and equipped as an or- 
phans' home, with a view to taking the lit- 
tle children out of the poor house and from 
among the hardened and wretched and hav- 
ing them cared for and taught separately 
and among pleasant and happy surround- 
ings. 

The medical jirofession has witnessed a 
revolution all along the line in inxentions 



and discoveries and in the practical applica- 
tion of these modern deductions to accom- 
plish ends heretofore inconceivable. . The 
discovery of licjuid air and its wonderful 
properties has startled the scientific world 
and while it is only emerging from the 
birth-throes, it awaits the hand of some 
genius to harness its forces that it may be- 
come an obedient servant, doing the will of 
mankind. With the X-ray, another power, 
the medical man is enabled to explore the 
interior of the living human system, while 
the heart continues to beat, the mind to act 
and life goes on uninterrupted, so that 
diseased conditions are determined, foreign 
bodies, as bullets or tumors, are located to a 
certainty and therefore are more readily 
treated or removed, as the respective cases 
require. The gold cure for inebriety has 
proven largely a success and the institutions 
established for that purpose have actually 
reclaimed thousands of lives from wreck 
and ruin back to family and home, and to a 
useful career in the world. The treatment 
for certain diseased conditions by "sugges- 
tion" has found favor with some, and of 
course will have its day and ardent devo- 
tees. 

.\s this article must draw to a close, I 
only have time and space to hint at some of 
the more important things in store for the 
future of the medical profession. The con- 
\'enience and dispatch \yith which the pro- 
fession is now able to receive calls and dis- 
charge the daily routine of visits and at- 
tendance on the sick is unique indeed. 
Electricity, too, lias wrought wonders. 
I'^ornierly the physician received the calls 
and filled the same from the country dis- 
tricts after messenger and himself had rid- 
den on horse-back manv. manv miles 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



85 



througli the mud and swales : Iiut how dif- 
ferent today, and witli what lightning 
dispatch the same is accomplished now, in 
part at least, through the medium of the tel- 
ephone, the gravel roads and asphalt streets. 
A message is sent from the farmer's house 
to the physician's office and he is soon on 
the way to the patient, either going on the 
bicycle, the automobile or the electric car, 
which will bring him in an inconceivable 
short period of time to the door of the sick. 
It has even gone beyond this — it is now too 
long to await the stretching of the telephone 
wires, as "wireless telegraphy" has stepped 
in and — "presto change" — the message is 
received. Many and varied are the experi- 
ences of the phy^cian and surgeon. At times 
he is required to be as mute, unobserving 
and silent as the tomb, and at other times, 
observing and outspoken. He should have 
the eyes of an eagle, the hand and touch of a 



woman, and the heart and determination of 
a lion, as the occasion demands. 

THE DE.^TII. 

"While some may live and seem no 
grace to yield, 
Still some must die, though all their 
world complain. 
As if the One who harvests In the 
Field 
Would leave the weeds and garner 
unripe grain. 

THE CURE. 

To some 'tis given they must suffer 
pain; 
Another that he comes with skill to 
heal. 
And having healed goes calmly on his 
way, 
While those who suffered live and 
love again." 

Be kind and considerate and respectful 
to the doctor, for God has made you and you 
have need of him. 



DENTISTRY. 



BY THOMAS STURGIS, D. D. S. 



In this notice of the history of dentistry 
in our beautiful city of Blufifton it is likely 
to be quite a mixture, a gleaning here and a 
gleaning there; so we are likely to give you 
in these pages something unlike anything 
you have seen before, a cross, perhaps, be- 
tween an editor's special and a report of dis- 
cussion, and if the reader regards it as too 
much of a medley we can make him better 
understand our idea if in the war of the Re- 
bellion he ever reached the region visited by 
Gen. Turchin's brigade, by saying, "Here's 
your mule." This subject is far-reaching 
and comprehends tlie treatment of every or- 
gan contained in the oral cavity, for dentist- 
ry is a positive science as well as a practical 
art. But a free use of scientific terms will 
not pass for well expressed ideas nor re- 
dound half so much to the credit of the 
writer as the simple language which con- 
veys some useful, practical and appreciable 
thought. 

There have been located in Bluffton sev- 
enteen dentists, as follows : Drs. S. M. 
Cummins, O. W. Crow, Jack Ross, Ralph 
Fenton, Uranus Fenton, Thomas Sturgis, 
Earl B. Sturgis, P. L. Robinson, Homer E. 
Robinson, Evert Meriman, Forst Brenne- 
man, L. W. Dailey, Homer Clayton, O. K. 
Mucklev, O. F. Covert, F. \V. Karns and 



G. M. Kinsey. Those now located in our 
midst are: Sturgis & Sturgis, D. D. S., L.W. 
Dailey, D. D. S., Robinson & Robinson, D. 
D. S., and Homer Clayton, D. D. S. Of the 
others, three are known to be dead. Dr. Oliv- 
er S. Covert, died in Denver, Colorado, Feb- 
ruary 20, 1889; Dr. Fred Karns died in 
Bluffton June 19, 1895; Ralph Fenton died 
at Kokonio, Indiana. These died full of 
young manhood, and were an honor to their 
profession. In the mysterious providence of 
our Father in heaven they have gone to 
their reward ; peace to their ashes. Dr. S. 
M. Cummins, the first dentist to locate in 
Bluffton, is now at Elkhart, Indiana; Dr. 
Uranus Fenton, at Alliance, Ohio; Dr. O. 
K. Muckley, at Huntington, Indiana; Dr. 
Evert Merriman, at South Whitley, Indi- 
ana; Dr. Forst Brenneman, at Columbia 
City, Indiana ; Dr. G. M. Kinsey, at Toledo, 
Ohio. 

Our forefathers of forty years ago were 
handicapped in their work. Then equip- 
ments and instruments were not of the char- 
acter they are today; but we will have to 
admit they did some noble work and laid 
the foundation of one of the highest 
branches of science the world has ever 
known. Today we are foremost in this 
noble profession. We have at our com- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



87 



mand all the advantages of science and in- 
vestigation worked out by our preceptors. 
Today operations are made easy by modern 
methods and equipments. The filling of 
teeth with gold, silver, cement, crowning 
of broken down teeth, bridge work, the best 
possible substitute for lost teeth, plates 
where all the teeth are gone — this work is 
done today with the greatest of satisfaction. 
Now, a word to mothers and those who 
have children under their care. The pres- 
ervation of the temporary teeth is by no 
means a matter of trifling importance. They 
demand prompt attention, and demand it 
more imperati\'ely than do the permanent 
teeth. The dicidious teeth, commonly 
known as baby teeth, are the first to appear 
in the mouth in infancy, being twenty in 
number. They begin to erupt about the 
fourth to the sixth month, and are complet- 
ed from the twentieth to twenty-fourth 
month. This cannot be said of all children, 
as they may erupt sooner or later than the 
designated time. After the eruption of these 
temporary organs in their respective places 
the dentist should be consulted at least once 
a year, or oftener, as the retention of the 
temporary teeth insures evenness and per- 
manency in the permanent set. At about 
the fifth to the sixth year, when the child 
begins to discard these temporary organs to 
accommodate a more substantial set of 
thirty-two teeth, the mother is often mis- 
led, especially in the first permanent molar, 
which erupts about the sixth year. Think- 
ing it a baby tooth, they allow it to decay 
until it is past the power of the dentist to 
restore. It should be a mother's ambition 
to care for the child's teeth until they reach 
an age when they are responsible for their 
own welfare. 



Li conclusion we desire to address a few 
words to our brothers in the practice. The 
dentist's duty to his profession is to main- 
tain its dignity, to increase its efficiency and 
to make it honorable in the eyes of men. 
Any course of action which will diminish 
public confidence in dentistry as a profession 
is a breach of duty and every breach of duty 
is an infraction of the code of ethics; hence 
poor practice, imperfect operations, unskill- 
ful treatment, whether resulting from care- 
lessness or ignorance, are unethical. In all 
your busy hours in operating rooms and 
laboratory, let me entreat you never to for- 
get the obligation resting upon you as mem- 
bers of society and as citizens of the state. 
The great law of reciprocity embodied in 
the injunction. "Bear ye one another's bur- 
dens," should always prevail. Society 
maintains you and the state protects you; 
be dutiful and loyal to both. Society today 
is profoundly agitated with questions, so- 
cial, economic and political, which reach to 
the very foundation of free government. 
You can not stand aloof and say that by 
reason of your particular occupation you 
have nothing to do with such matters; on 
the contrary they concern every man and 
you can not evade your responsibility; you 
must take part in the current daily discus- 
sions of your fellow citizens and help to 
form the general verdict of public opinion. 
Let your ballot be cast as conscientiously 
as you read your Bible, and let your influ- 
ence in the community always be equal to 
your ability and your opportunity. Now 
to the subject, farewell ; to the future, hail ; 
to honorable employment, welcome, and 
may you each and all be crowned with suc- 
cess and happiness. The writer of this 
article has practiced dentistry thirty years 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



continuously in Biuffton, Indiana. He is 
one of five brothers wlio saw service and 
plenty of it in the war of the Rebellion. All 
five are alive today; three of them passed 
through the struggle unscathed; two were 
wounded, Capt. E. Y. Sturgis at the battle 
of Champion Hill, Mississippi, and Capt. 



William Sturgis at the battle of Resaca, 
Georgia. Sergeant Thomas Sturgis, author 
of this article, was a member of Company A, 
Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 
He claims the distinction of having served 
the longest of the five brothers, having four 
vears and over five months to his credit. 



^ fS^ 




^^Z ^c 




PART II. 



BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



HON. HUGH DOUGHERTY. 

True biography has a more noble pur- 
pose than mere fulsome eulogy. The his- 
toric spirit, faithful to the record; the dis- 
cerning judgment, unmoved by prejudice, 
and uncolored by enthusiasm, are as essen- 
tial in giving the life of the individual as in 
writing the history of a people. Indeed, the 
ingenuousness of the former picture is even 
more vital, because the individual is the 
national unit, and if the unit be justly es- 
timated the complex organism will become 
correspondingly intelligible. The world 
today is what the leading men of tlie last 
generation have made it, and this rule must 
ever hold good. From the past comes the 
legacy of the present. Art, science, states- 
manship and government are accumula- 
tions. They constitute an inheritance upon 
which the present generation have entered, 
and the ad^-antages secured from so vast 
a bequeathment depend entirely upon the 
fidelity with which is conducted the study 
of the lives of the principle actors who have 
transmitted and are still transmitting the 



legacy. This is especially true of those 
whose influence has passed beyond the con- 
fines of locality and permeated the state or 
national life. To such a careful study are 
the life, character and services of Hugh 
Dougherty pre-eminently entitled, not only 
on the part of the student of biography but 
also of every citizen who. guided by exam- 
ple, would in the present wisely build for 
the future. 

Anv piece of biographical writing 
should have an autobiographic quality; 
should be an impression and interpretation, 
quite as much as a summary of facts. Facts, 
to be sure, are of use as wholesome correc- 
tion of prejudice or whimsy, but in the con- 
densed narrative of a life there is danger 
that they may tyrannize. In studying a 
clean-cut. sane, distinct character like that of 
the subject, interpretation follows fact in a 
straight line of derivation. There is a 
small use for indirection or puzzling. His 
character is the positive expression of a 
strong nature. A partial revelation of his 
prolific application. sturdy patriotism, 
wortliv ancestrv and eminentlv successful 



90 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



life will be secured through a perusal of 
this brief tribute. Wells county may well 
be proud of such citizens as this popular 
and honored citizen of Blufifton. 

Hugh Dougherty is a native of that 
state concerning which Senator Depew 
spoke in the following amusing paraphrase : 
"Some men are born great, some achieve 
greatness and some are born in Ohio." Mr. 
Dougherty was born on the parental home- 
stead, in Darke county, Ohio, on the 28th 
of July, 1844, his lineage showing the 
sturdy dual strains of the Irish and German 
extraction. He bears the full patronymic 
of his paternal grandfather, Hugh Dough- 
ert}-, who emigrated from the Emerald 
Isle and took up his abode in Pennsylvania 
in 18 1 8, and there, in 1820, was born Wil- 
liam Dougherty, the father of the subject. 
About a decade later, in 183 1, the family 
emigrated to Ohio and settled on a tract of 
unreclaimed land in Darke county, where 
the grandfather died in 1833. There Wil- 
liam grew to years of maturity and there, 
on the 7th of June, 1841, was solemnized 
his marriage to Miss Margaret Studabaker, 
who was born in that county in August, 
1821, on the farm which her father had' 
taken up when that section of the Buckeye 
state was a veritable wilderness, and where 
there was the menace of Indians and wild 
beasts to fear, besides the endurance of the 
privations and vicissitudes incidental to the 
pioneer days. Grandfather Studabaker was 
compelled to keep his wife near him in the 
clearing while he was engaged in his ardu- 
ous toil, in order to protect her from prowl- 
ing bands of hostile Indians. He was of 
stanch German extraction, and the name 
was one which early became indentified 
with the history of the old Keystone state 



of Pennsylvania. Margaret (Studabaker) 
Dougherty passed her entire life in Darke 
county, where her death occurred on the 
15th of August, i860. She was survived 
by six children. Her husband eventually 
removed to Wells county, Indiana, and set- 
tled on a farm near Bluffton, where his 
death occurred on the 2nd of June, 1879. 
These were folk of sterling character, and 
their lives were signally true and noble, 
though not lived on an exalted plane. 

Hugh Dougherty grew up under the 
sturdy and invigorating discipline and en- 
\ironment of the old home farm in Darke 
county, where he assisted in the farm work 
during the summer seasons and prosecuted 
his studies in the district schools during 
the winter months. However, his nature 
was self-reliant and positive, and he was 
not satisfied with the somewhat meager 
educational opportunities afforded him in 
his boyhood, and thus he so applied himself 
as to become eligible for pedagogic honors 
when seventeen years of age. He devoted 
his attention to teaching for some time, be- 
ing successful in his efforts, and was thus 
engaged when there came the clarion call 
to respond to the demands of higher duty, 
as the integrity of the nation was placed in 
jeopardy through armed rebellion. In Aug- 
ust, 1862, at the age of eighteen years, he 
enlisted as a private in Company F, Nine- 
ty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 
which his brother Abraham was already en- 
rolled, and within ten days after his enlist- 
ment the regiment proceeded, under orders, 
by rail to Lexington, Kentucky, and thence 
by march on toward Richmond, Kentucky, 
passing the old homestead of Henry Clay, 
on the Richmond & Lexington turnpike, 
and on the second day encountering the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Confederates, who were moving toward 
Lexington. In the engagement which en- 
sued Mr. Dougherty's intimate friend and 
messmate, Perry Weikle, was killed, and 
William H. Birely, of the same company, 
was severely wounded. The Union forces 
retreated to Lexington, and the remnant of 
the Ninety-fourth numbered about three 
hundred men, all the others having been 
killed, wounded or taken prisoners. The 
survivors fought their way back to Louis- 
ville, where they remained until the regi- 
ment was repleted and reorganized, when 
it was assigned to Buell's army and partic- 
ipated in the battle of Perryville, being in 
the thickest of the fray in this spirited en- 
gagement. The ranks of the regiment were 
again decimated by the large number killed, 
wounded and captured, and after this battle 
such of the members as were eligible for 
service marched to Nashville, where they 
remained twenty days and then proceeded 
to Stone ri\'er and took part in the battle at 
that point. During this engagement young 
Dougherty was stationed near Nolensville, 
guarding ammunition and stores, and the 
Confederate cavalry made a detour in the 
rear and captured him and others of the 
guard. They were immediately paroled, 
after subscribing to an oath of which the 
following is a copy : 

NoLEXSViLLE. Tenx., Dec. 30, 1862. 

I, Hugh Dougherty, private of Company F, 
Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, U. S. A., do take a 
solemn oath not to take up arms against the Con- 
federate States troops, nor reveal anything I may 
have learned derogatory to the interests of the 
Confederate States of America, nor do any police 
or constabulary duties until I shall have been 
properly exchanged, under penalty of death. 

(Signed) Hugh Dougherty. 
Witness: Lieut.-Col. M. H. Hawkins, of General 

W^heeler's staff. 



Mr. Dougherty was then sent back to 
Nashville and thence to Camp Chase, at 
Columbus, Ohio, to remain until his ex- 
change could be accomplished. Learning of 
the critical illness of his soldier brother, 
Abraham, who had been sent home on sick 
furlough, he made a visit to his home, 
where he remained until his loved brother 
yielded up his life to the one invincible foe, 
death, after which he reported for duty, but 
was almost immediately attacked with a 
serious illness, which rendered him ineligi- 
ble for active service, so that he was soon 
afterward accorded an honorable discharge, 
by reason of disability. After his military 
career had been thus summarily terminated, 
Mr. Dougherty retdrned to his native state, 
and at Greenville found employment as dep- 
uty in the office of the recorder of Darke 
county, remaining in tenure of this position 
for a period of three years. His removal 
to Bluffton occurred immediately after his 
withdrawal from this office, and after his 
arrival here he was for six months em- 
ployed as salesman in a dry-goods estab- 
lishment. He then entered into a partner- 
ship association with his uncle, John Stud- 
abaker, in the grain and produce business, 
in which line he continued operations for a 
period of seven years, doing a large and suc- 
cessful commission business. In the mean- 
time he became assistant cashier in the First 
National Bank of Bluffton, of which his 
uncle previously mentioned was president, 
and this institution was subsequently 
merged into one of a private character, be- 
coming known as the Exchange Bank of 
John Studabaker & Co., the interested prin- 
cipals being Hon. John Studabaker, Major 
Peter Studabaker and Mr. Dougherty. The 
Studabakers were among the early settlers 



92 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and most prominent and influential busi- 
ness men of Blufifton, as is noted in tlie gen- 
eral historical sketch appearing elsewhere 
in this work, and they are of the same fam- 
il}' line as the celebrated manufacturers of 
South Bend, this state, and Chicago. This 
banking firm transacted an extensive and 
representative business under the able and 
discriminating managemnt of Mr. Dough- 
erty, to whom all the executive details were 
entrusted. Major Peter Studabaker died 
on the 19th of May, 1888, and the surviv- 
ing partners decided that the demands 
placed upon their institution by the en- 
larged and still increasing business ren- 
dered a change of system and methods ex- 
pedient, and accordingly, on the ist of Jan- 
uary. 1895, the proposed changes were 
made and the institution was given title as 
the Studabaker Bank, Mr. Dougherty being 
chosen president, while other officers were 
selected for the minor executive duties. The 
institution is capitalized at one hundred and 
forty thousand dollars and Mr. Dougherty 
is still its presiding officer. 

The subject has not only gained recog- 
nition and prestige as one of the most able 
and discerning financiers and capable 
business men, but also has always had an 
abiding interest in all that touches the 
material progress and general prosperity of 
his home city, iDeing known as one of Bluff- 
ton's most progressive and public spirited 
citizens, and having contributed, both by 
influence and tangible aid. to all legitimate 
projects which have tended to conserve the 
best interests of the community. He was 
largely instrumental in pushing to final 
completion the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & 
St. Louis Railroad and was superintendent 
of the construction of the section of the line 



between Bluffton and Fort Wayne. He was 
also signally interested in the Toledo, St. 
Louis & Kansas City Railroad and was as- 
sociated with James Crosbie in the building 
of the section between Bluffton and War- 
ren. He threw the weight of his influence 
and energy aggressively into the movement 
for the construction of turnpikes and gravel 
roads throughout Wells county, an im- 
provement whose \'alue to the county can 
not be overestimated. He has been active 
and liberal in the promotion of all material 
interests in his city and county and has been 
equally conspicuous in advancing the causes 
of education and morality. Mainly through 
his determined personal efforts, while a 
member of the board of school trustees, the 
handsome and commodious school building 
of Bluffton was secured. — in fact, it was 
through his individual credit that the money 
was procured for its construction, as no 
public funds were available at the time. In 
January, 1866, Mr. Dougherty became a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and in 187 1, when was essayed the task of 
providing for the erection of a new church 
edifice in Bluffton, he was selected as finan- 
cial manager during the period of building 
the spacious and beautiful structure, which 
met the requirements of a progressive 
church society for a score of years. The 
edifice proved finally inadequate for the de- 
mands placed upon it, and in 1892 it was re- 
built and greatly improved, very largely 
through the financial aid and active man- 
agement of the honored subject of this 
sketch. His name appears on a tablet, let 
into the interior walls of the church, and 
the inscription in the connection gives a 
perpetual evidence of his earnest and suc- 
cessful efforts in effecting the erection of the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



93 



original building and also the new and im- 
posing edifice evolved from the former. 

In politics Mr. Dougherty has ever ac- 
corded an unequivocal allegiance to the 
Democratic party and for more than a 
quarter of a century he has been an acti\e 
and valued worker in behalf of its cause, 
prominent in the councils of its leaders. His 
advice and assistance in partisan affairs of 
the county and district have been freely 
sought and in his mature and conservative 
judgment great confidence has been placed. 
He was made a member of the Democratic 
executive committee of the state in 1890 
and servefl in this capacity until 1896. In 
1870 he was elected to the state senate, 
from the district embracing Wells and 
Huntington counties, and he served with 
signal acceptability for four years, doing 
much to further wise legislation and to ad- 
vance the interests of the state at large. He 
voted in favor of the famous Baxter bill, 
providing for the controlling of the liquor 
traffic in the state through local option on 
the part of the several counties, and in this 
action showed to a marked degree the cour- 
age of his convictions and that he could not 
be swerved by any matter of personal ex- 
pediency or political policy when the matter 
of conscience was involved, for his party 
was intensely opposed to the bill. He has 
had no occasion to regret his action in the 
premises, but, on the contrary, adheres 
firmly to the principles which he advocated 
in supporting that law. In 1878 he was a 
candidate in the nominating convention for 
member of congress, and was defeated by 
only five votes, after one hundred and four- 
teen ballots had been taken in the conven- 
tion. In the opinion of his friends he could 
have received the nomination in the conven- 



tion of 1886, had he not peremptorily de- 
clined when his name was presented. He 
was a delegate to the national convention of 
his party, in Chicago, in 1884, to that held 
in the same city in 1892, and also at Kansas 
City in 1900, in which he was a delegate at 
large from the state. Mr. Dougherty was 
nominated by the Democratic state con\-en- 
tion for the office of state treasurer, but 
went down to defeat with the balance of the 
ticket, though running over two thousand 
votes ahead of the ticket, the latter fact indi- 
cating his personal popularity. 

In 1887 Mr. Dougherty was appointed 
by a commission, composed of the governor 
and other state officers, as one of the com- 
missioners of the soldiers' monument, pro- 
vided for by act of the legislature and 
erected in the state capital, and though fully 
appreciative of the honor conferred he felt 
constrained to decline the appointment, by 
reason of impaired health and the insistent 
demands of his business. When the state 
tax board, under the law of 1891. under- 
took to require all banks to furnish to as- 
sessors a written statement giving the 
names of all the depositors, with the 
amounts of the respective deposits, the asso- 
ciated bankers of the state decided to resist 
the 'demand by legal process, deeming the 
action inquisitorial and unconstitutional. 
Mr. Dougherty was selected to represent 
the private banks, with Volney T. Malott, 
of Indianapolis, representing the national 
banks, and Philip C. Decker, of Evansville, 
representing the state banks, to test the con- 
stitutionality of the law. The result of the 
litigation was finally summed up in an or- 
der from the court vacating and setting 
aside the order of the state tax board — this 
showing the ability with which the three 



94 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



representatives were enabled to present the 
case. 

The organization of a company in Bluff- 
ton for the development of natural gas, and 
its subsequent action, which resulted in sup- 
plying the city with such gas, were largely 
accomplished through the leadership and 
persistent energy of Mr. Dougherty. Pop- 
ular confidence in his judgment and extra- 
ordinary executive ability enabled the com- 
pany to raise in the town the capital of one 
hundred thousand dollars required to con- 
summate the project. He was selected by 
the associated gas companies of the state as 
one of a committee to direct the resistance 
of the Chicago Natural Gas Company to 
pipe gas out of the state, the result being 
that the movement was delayed for two 
years, though the Chicago company was 
eventually successful. In the autumn of 
1894 the Bluff ton Gas Company was con- 
solidated with that of Fort Wayne and the 
stock passed into the hands of an eastern 
syndicate, which selected Mr. Dougherty as 
its Indiana representative on the board of 
directors, in which position he has contin- 
ued to serve until the present. He was at 
one time a part owner of the Indianapolis 
Sentinel, being one of the directors of the 
company. Mr. Dougherty is also president 
of the United Telephone Company, with an 
actual paid-in capital of three hundred 
thousand dollars, and of the Federal Union 
Surety Company of Indianapolis, with a 
paid-in capital of two liundred and fifty 
thousand dollars. 

In June, 1895, Governor Matthews ap- 
pointed Mr. Dougherty a member, from the 
state at large, on the commission to arrange 
for the proper celebration of the centennial 
anniversary of the organization of the ter- 



ritory of Indiana, and he made exceptional 
effort to make the laudable project mater- 
ialize in success, but owing to unfortunate 
apathy the observance of the centennial as 
a state function was finally abandoned. At 
a meeting of the Indiana Commandery of 
the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, 
held at Evansville, Indiana, December 19, 
1895, Col. Eli Lilly, of Indianapolis, of- 
fered a vigorous and interesting address in 
response to the toast, "One Hundred Years 
of Indiana," and incidentally incorporated 
the views — as expressed in an interview — 
of Mr. Dougherty as touching the centen- 
nial celebration of Indiana territory, and it 
is eminently appropriate that space be given 
to perpetuating these sentiments in this 
connection. Referring to the spirit which 
inspired the Indiana Centennial Commis- 
sion in its work. Colonel Lilly said : "I 
cannot do my subject, or the state, a better 
service than by quoting the words of our 
comrade, the Hon. Hugh Dougherty, com- 
missioner for the state at large:" 

Indiana is the pulse state of the Union. 
Through her the great throbbing veins of com- 
merce, which nourish every part of our national 
body. flow. Her geographical location and physi- 
cal features are such that the East and the West 
traverse her territory in passing to and fro. Her 
capital is the largest inland railroad center in the 
world. The center of our country's population is 
within her borders. Her position among her sis- 
ter states is unique, and her marvelous progress 
since her organization as a territory calls for a 
centennial jubilee of such character as will best 
enable her sons and daughters to appreciate the 
heritage of a hundred years. 

There is no way in which we could more effec- 
tively kindle that wholesome state pride which 
must underlie the noble action of her present and 
future citizenship than by a parade of her achieve- 
ments and a fresh revelation of her early strug- 
gles. The latter are now matters of recorded his- 
tory to most of us, and a retrospective view of the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



95 



heroic struggles of our fathers would be an elo- 
quent lesson to patriotism. In their toils, their 
sufferings, their hardships, their conflicts, momen- 
tous questions were at stake and issues vital to 
the future world. In appearance they were insig- 
nificant at times, but in reality, copious and full 
of benevolent consequences. Acting at the springs 
of our future greatness, instruments otherwise 
weak became mighty for good, and our pioneer 
fathers, obscure to the world, proved to be agents 
of destiny. They entered an untamed wilderness 
with vast wastes of forest verdure to make a gar- 
den for their children, and the hills then silent 
in their primeval sleep now echo the music of 
happy homes of industry. Those hardy sons of 
toil, whose school was the forest, whose trade 
was barter with savages, whose social life was that 
of the camp-fire, whose daily lesson was self-sac- 
rifice, conquered the territory of Indiana for civi- 
lization. Such memories as these ought to kindle 
a burning enthusiasm in every loyal Hoosier breast 
to join in the proposed observance of our anniver- 
sary. 

Such an observance would be of more than lo- 
cal consequence. It would be a formal way in which 
our state could give evidence to the world of her 
worthiness of a place in the family of states com- 
prising our great republic. Our exhibit would 
say: "This is our achievement," and of this we 
need not be ashamed. With an agricultural pro- 
ductivity unsurpassed,; monumental manufactur- 
ing industries; natural resources inexhaustible, 
among which are lumber, stone, coal, natural gas 
and petroleum; a school system which is an object 
lesson to the world; an intelligent, industrious, 
patriotic. Christian citizenship; populous cities, 
with every modern improvement. — in fine, all that 
constitutes the highest degree of prosperity and 
civilization to be found on the globe, — the people 
of this great state may be exceedingly glad to 
make a representative exhibit of the fruit of their 
labors and say to the world; "Behold the heritage 
of a hundred years." 

Then, let us celebrate the event which has led 
to such marvelous consequences — an event con- 
temporaneous with the beginning of a century 
which has seen greater commercial development, 
more extensive manufacturing enterprises, more 
valuable invention and discovery, more fruitful 
agricultural activity, more widespread intelli- 
gence, more altruistic feeling, and more applica- 
tion to the agencies that make possible complete 
living than all the centuries that preceded; and in 



the observance of this historic event let us show 
that Indiana has contributed her full share toward 
achieving this unparalleled progress. 

Fraternally Mr. Dougherty is identi- 
fied with Lew Dailey Post No. 33, G. A. R., 
and through his active association with the 
organization he keeps in touch with his old 
comrades in arms and perpetuates the more 
grateful memories of the days when he was 
serving as a leal and loyal son of the repub- 
lic in the greatest internecine war known 
in the annals of history. In the midst of 
the thronging cares and demands of a busy 
life Mr. Dougherty is always approach- 
able, being gracious in his association with 
his fellow men and enjoying personal pop- 
ularity which is a natural result of his char- 
acteristics. He has gained a reputation as 
a man well equipped equally with the solid 
and the brilliant qualities essential to ma- 
terial success, but above this he has ordered 
his life on a high plane, having a deep sense 
of his stewardship and an appreciation of 
the responsibility that canopies every life. 
He is a man of fine intellectuality and is a 
wide and discriminating reader of the best 
literature, while as a writer and speaker he 
has facility and ease in the employing of 
choice and eflfective diction. He has been 
devoted to the public service and to the im- 
provement of his town and county, is be- 
loved by his friends and admired and es- 
teemed by the community. His generosit}', 
unswerving integrity and pronounced abil- 
ity have gained to him a distinctive position 
as one of the truest and best citizens of 
Bluffton. He has traveled extensively and 
has studied men and affairs with intelli- 
gence and interest. His career has been 
crowned with usefulness and sustained by 
genuine popular approval. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



On the 25tli of October, 1877. Mr. 
Dougherty was united in marriage to Miss 
Emma GilHland, the only daughter of The- 
odore F. and Ehzabeth (Sheldon) GilH- 
land, both of whom were natives of the 
state of New York and of stanch Scotch- 
, Irish extraction. Mrs. Dougherty was 
born in Sterling, Illinois, on the 22d of 
June, 1857, and is a woman of gentle re- 
finement and gracious presence, taking an 
active part in the social and religious life 
of her home city and holding the apprecia- 
tive regard of all who come within the 
sphere of lier kindly and helpful influence. 
Since her girlhood she has been a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dougherty have one daughter, 
Elizabeth, who was born on the 23d of 
March, 1885, and who is one of the popular 
young ladies in the social circles of Bluff- 
ton. 



HON. JOSEPH S. DAILEY. 

An enumeration of those men of the 
present generation who have won honor 
and public recognition for themselves, and 
at the same time have honored the state to 
which they Ijelong, would stultify consis- 
tency were there failure to make prominent 
reference to the one whose name initiates 
this review. He holds distinctive prece- 
dence as an able lawyer and judge, having 
served with signal ability as associate jus- 
tice of the supreme court of the state of In- 
diana, is a man of recondite attainments 
and has ever borne himself with that honor 
and dignity whose natural offspring is un- 
equivocal confidence and esteem from ob- 
jective sources. He has been and is dis- 



tinctively a man of affairs and one who has 
wielded a wide influence. A strong men- 
tality, an invincible courage, a most deter- 
mined individuality, have so entered into 
his makeup as to render him a natural lead- 
er of men and director of opinion. Aside 
from his position in public and civic life, 
there is farther propriety in according him 
representation in this work, for he is a 
native son of Wells county, and this has 
been the scene of the greater part of his 
life's earnest labors, his home being in the 
attractive capital of the county, the city of 
Bluffton, where he is at the present time 
still actively engaged in the practice of his 
chosen profession. 

Joseph S. Dailey was born on a farm 
in Lancaster township. Wells county, Indi- 
ana, on the 31st of May, 1844, and is a rep- 
resentative of one of the worthy pioneer 
families of the state. He was the fifth in 
order of birth of the nine children of James 
and Lydia (Garton) Dailey, and of these 
children four died in infancy. His brother, 
Lewis W., died at the age of nineteen, while 
in command of a company of the Twenty- 
second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during 
the war of the Rebellion. His sister, Mary 
A., died at the age 6f eighteen, and another 
sister, Mrs. Rachel L. Sowards, yet sur- 
vives. The genealogy in the agnatic line 
records, perhaps, the "short and simple an- 
nals of the poor," and yet betokens sterling 
manhood and noble womanhood, as one 
generation followed another onto the stage 
of action. As has been said in a previously 
published article referring to Judge Dailey, 
"His paternal ancestors were plain, unpre- 
tentious men who performed their several 
duties modestly and without ostentation. 
They were content to earn an honest living 



^^^p 







^^^ s 




WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



97 



on the farm or in the shop, without seeking 
official honors or pubHc favor. He is of the 
fifth generation by direct Hneage from Den- 
i:is Dailey, who was a native of county Sh- 
go, Ireland, and who emigrated to America 
before the middle of the eighteenth centtiry, 
settling in New Jersey. Both of Judge 
Dailey's grandfathers attested their courage 
and patriotism by honorable service in the 
war of 1812, against England. Both of 
them were natives of New Jersey; both re- 
moved to Indiana and became early settlers 
of Franklin county. Here his father and 
mother were married and lived until their 
first three children were born ; they then re- 
moved to Allen county, where the fourth 
was born; thence to Wells county, which 
became their permanent home." 

Joseph S. Dailey secured his early edu- 
cational discipline in the public schools of 
Bluffton and then began his technical prep- 
aration for his chosen profession by enter- 
ing the law office of Newton Burwell, of 
this place, under whose direction he contin- 
ued his studies for two years. In order to 
secure the funds necessary to defraying his 
course in the law department of the state 
university, he devoted a portion of his time 
to teaching in the district schools of Wells 
county and also in the public schools of 
Bluffton. In 1865 he was duly matriculated 
in the law department of the university, 
where he was graduated in 1866. being ad- 
mitted to the bar of Indiana in that 
year. He forthwith entered into a profes- 
sional partnership with the late George S. 
Brown, who later removed to the state of 
Kansas, his death occurring in its capital 
city a number of years later. In October, 
1866, within the first year of his active 
practice in Bluffton, Judge Dailey was 



elected to the office of district attorney for 
the court of common pleas, and two years 
later still further advancement came to him 
along the line of professional work, since 
in 1868 he was elected prosecuting attorney 
for the district in which Judge Lowry, of 
Fort Wayne, presided. That his services 
in this capacity met with favor is evident 
from the fact that he was re-elected in 1870. 
1872 and 1874, thus serving four consecu- 
tive terms of two years each. Of his career 
in this office the following pertinent words 
have been written: "The position secure4 
for the young lawyer not only a reasonable 
income, but also afforded the desired oppor- 
tunity for practice. Gaining familiarity 
with criminal statutes, in conducting inves- 
tigations before the grand jury, preparing 
indictments and prosecuting the cases in 
court, was not the only benefit derived from 
the service. There was constant incentive 
to thorough preparation in all the details of 
procedure. The defense was usually con- 
ducted by lawyers of ability and experience, 
with whom the prosecutor must cope in the 
preparation of indictments and pleadings, 
in the marshalling of evidence and the ex- 
amination of witnesses, and, finally, in the 
presentation of cases to a jury. This pro- 
fssional contact sharpens the intellect and 
stimulates the desire for superioritv. It 
tends to the cultivation of alertness, quick- 
ness of perception and self-confidence. If 
the young practitioner is favored by nature 
with the endowments essential to a reason- 
able degree of success he soon apprehends 
the futility of depending upon inspiration, 
and the importance of knowing all the ele- 
ments and features of his case. Profes- 
sional pride and persistent application are 
equally essential. Air. Dailey soon ac- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



quired a good practice. He was not with- 
out ambition. In 1878 he was nominated 
and elected a representative in the state 
legislature. His record in that body was 
that of a conservative working member, — 
always persistent, always moderate, yet 
courageous in the expression of his views. 
As a member of important committees, 
and in support of measures on the floor, he 
was influenced in formulating and securing 
the passage of much legislation. He was 
also potent in opposing much that was vic- 
ious and objectionable. His uniform cour- 
tesy and firmness won him the esteem 
of political opponents. His conscientious 
regard for public duty secured to him the 
confidence of all his colleagues and associ- 
ates. Once afterward he yielded to the im- 
portunities of partisan friends and became 
a candidate for political office. In 1882 he 
accepted the Democratic nomination for 
congress and made a race that was hopeless, 
because of the adverse partisan majority, 
though his canvass was highly creditable 
and entirely honorable. Settling down 
again to the practice of law, he secured a 
valuable clientage, extending over a large 
district. In 1888 he was elected judge of 
the twenty-eighth circuit, comprising the 
counties of Huntington and Wells, for a 
term of six years. His service on the bench 
was alike acceptable to the bar and the pop- 
ulace. He exercised wise discretion and 
commendable humanity in dealing with 
youth convicted of violating penal statutes. 
In most instances of first ofifense, if the ac- 
cused had previously borne a good reputa- 
tion, sentence was withheld and he was al- 
lowed to enjoy liberty, after timely advice 
and warning by the court, so long as good 
deportment was maintained. In this way 



boys were reclaimed and saved for good cit- 
izenship instead of a life of crime. Before 
the expiration of his term in the circuit 
Judge Dailey was appointed judge of the 
supreme court of the state, by Governor 
Matthews, receiving his commission to this 
exalted office July 25, 1893. His qualifi- 
cations for the office of judge, whether in 
the trial of causes or in the court of last re- 
sort, are unquestionable. First of all, he has 
the integrity of character. He possesses the 
natural ability and essential acquirements, 
the acrmien of the judicial temperament. 
He was able to divest himself of prejudice 
or favoritism and consider only the legal 
aspects of a question submitted. No labor 
was too great, however onerous; no appli- 
cation too exacting, however severe, if 
necessary to the complete understanding 
and correct determination of a question. 
These are, indeed, words of high praise, but 
the encomium is justified in every particu- 
lar, for the Judge has proved him a distinct 
man, in all the term implies, and its impli- 
fication is wide. Many of the decisions of 
the circuit and supreme courts bear the im- 
press of his patient investigation and his 
logical argument and deductions. As a 
practitioner he employs none of the arts and 
tricks of oratory, but his speeches are elo- 
quent in the clearness of statement, the 
broad common sense of reasoning, the force 
of logic, earnestness and power. His 
career on the bench and at the bar ofifers a 
noble example and an inspiration, while he 
has never been known to fail in that strict 
courtesy and regard for professional ethics 
which should ever characterize the mem- 
bers of the bar. Faultless in honor, fearless 
in conduct and stainless in reputation, his 
career reflects credit upon the judiciary and 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



99 



bar of one of the sovereign commonwealths 
of the Union. Since his retirement from 
the bench Judge Dailey has been actively 
engaged in the practice of his profession in 
Bluffton, though his range of professional 
labor far transcends local limitations, as a 
matter of course. He has as associates in 
practice his eldest son, Frank C. Dailey, 
and Abraham Simmons, the large and im- 
portant business being conducted under the 
firm name of Dailey, Simmons & Dailey. 
The writer from whose signally able and 
appreciative estimate we have hitherto lib- 
erally quoted, continues farther, as fol- 
lows : "The Judge is favored in the pos- 
session of a healthful, vigorous constitu- 
tion, robust energy and marked vitality. 
He is in the prime of middle life, which is 
conducive to the most efifectual utilization 
of all the mental resources. Candid, earnest 
and sincere, he is a reliable counselor. His 
popularity as a citizen is the natural out- 
growth of confidence in his ability, integrity 
and soitnd judgment." 

The domestic chapter in the history of 
Judge Dailey has been one of ideal charac- 
ter, and it would be impertinence to more 
than lift the veil from the sacred precincts 
where much of his inspiration, courage and 
confidence ha\'e been born of the grateful 
influences supplied by the gracious woman- 
hood of his wife and the love and respect of 
his devoted children, to whom he has ac- 
corded the best possible educational advan- 
tages, finding ample recompense in the 
worthiness and usefulness of his children. 
On the 15th of March. 1870, Judge Dailey 
was united in marriage to Miss Emma Gute- 
lius, of Bluffton, who is of French extrac- 
tion in the agnatic line, which traces back 
to a distinguished surgeon in the French 



army. She was born in Fairfield county, 
Ohio, being a daughter of John P. and Hen- 
rietta Gutelius. Judge and Mrs. Dailey are 
the parents of four children, namely: 
Frank C, who was admitted to the bar of 
the state and is now associated with his 
father in practice, as previously noted ; 
Lewis W., who was graduated in the Lidi- 
anapolis Dental College in 1884, and who 
is now established in an excellent practice 
of his profession in Bluffton; Charles Gut- 
elius, who is incumbent of the position of 
principal of the Bluffton high school, and 
Blanche, who is studving at home. 



JOHN STUDABAKER. 

It is pleasing indulgence to write the bi- 
ography of a man who has been so promi- 
nently identified with the material activities 
of the nation as has John Studabaker, who 
stands conspicuously forward as one of the 
pioneers of Indiana and one whose connec- 
tion with the growth and substantial up- 
building of the thriving little city of Bluff- 
ton has been of such intimate nature and ex- 
tended over the course of many years. The 
name of John Studabaker, wherever known, 
passes current as a synonym for all that is 
upright and honorable. He came from 
Greenville, Ohio, to Bluffton in the year 
1838, and here engaged in the mercantile 
business. Since that early date he has been 
a prominent figure in the county and city 
and for many years had a personal acquain- 
tance with nearly every adult person in the 
county. Mr. Studabaker is a native of 
Darke county, Ohio, where he was born on 
the 15th of August, 181 7, being the son of 
Abraham and Marv (Townsend) Studa- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



baker. The conditions of place and period 
were such as to afford him but hmited ad- 
vantages in tlie way of securing an educa- 
tion, since in tiiat early day there were but 
few schools of any importance throughout 
what is now the great state of Ohio. The 
old log school house, with its puncheon floor 
and slab seats, figaired as the seat of learn- 
ing in the locality of his birth, and it may 
be said that in these rude school houses ha\e 
been "graduated" some of the best and 
strongest men of the nation. The boyhood 
days of the subject were passed upon the 
parental farmstead, and when a young man 
he went to Greenville, Ohio, where he en- 
gaged as a clerk in the dry goods establish- 
ment of Henry Arnold, thus gaining his 
initial experience in practical business af- 
fairs and incidentally laying the foundation 
for his future success. 

Mr. Studabaker came to Wells county a 
single man, but he realized the truth of the 
scriptural injunction, that it is not well for 
man to be alone, and he accordingly re- 
turned to Darke county, Ohio, and there, 
on the 7th day of July, 1839, was united in 
marriage to Rebecca Angel, daughter of 
David Angel, one of the leading citizens of 
that count}-, ^^'it]l his bride he returned to 
Bluffton, making his wedding tour on horse 
back. Of the ten children born to this 
union only four are now living : Mary 
Jane, the eldest daughter, was married to 
Dwight Klinck, in 1863, and to them were 
born four children. While crossing the 
Atlantic ocean, in 1875, ^^^'- Klinck was 
drowned and in August, 1876, his widow 
became the wife of Jacob J. Todd, a prom- 
inent attorney of Bluffton. By this union 
two children were born. The third daugh- 
ter of the subject, Jeanette, became the wife 



of F. T. Waring and her death occurred in 
1874. She left two children, who were 
entrusted to the care of her youngest sister, 
Martha, who, in 1875, also married F, T. 
Waring. The eldest son, David E. Studa- 
baker, is a prominent business man resid- 
ing in Bluffton. John A., the youngest 
son, married Edna Angel, of Dayton, 
Ohio, and has one child. 

Upon coming to Bluffton Mr. Studa- 
baker began his mercantile operations in a 
log cabin north of the public square. At 
that time the Indians were still largely in 
evidence and were numbered among his 
best customers. For many years he trans- 
ported his stock of goods from Cincinnati 
by means of wagons, fifteen to twenty days 
being required to make the round trip. 
During this time he was agent for the 
American Fur Company and bought all 
kinds of furs, having control of the counties 
of Adams, Jay, Wells and Blackford, and 
conducting extensive and profitable opera- 
tions in this line of industry which had so 
important bearing upon the commercial and 
material progress of the little pioneer com- 
munities. The countr}- increased rapidly in 
population, and in 1844 Mr. Studabaker 
found his previously adequate accommo- 
dations were not sufficient to meet the exi- 
gencies of his business, and he accordingly 
erected a two-story frame building in which 
to continue his mercantile enterprise, con- 
tinuing to utilize these quarters until 1852, 
when he erected a brick building on the 
same site where he reared his original 
cabin. 

In 1856 Mr. Studabaker disposed of his 
dry goods business and instituted banking 
operations, under the name of the Exchange 
Bank. In 1863 this institution was merged 



WELLS COUNTY, IXDL\NA. 



into the First National Bank, with the sub- 
ject as president. In 1868 tlie First Nation- 
al was discontinued, whereupon Mr. Studa- 
baker associated himself with his brother, 
Peter, and his nephew, Hugh Dougherty, 
in the organization of the Exchange Bank 
of John Studabaker & Company. This in- 
stitution is still in operation under the name 
of The Studabaker Bank, and is the lead- 
ing bank of Wells county, having a distinc- 
tive hold upon public favor and confidence. 

In connection wnth his banking business 
Air. Studabaker has continued in the grain 
and produce business on an extensive scale. 
From time to time he has invested his means 
in farm land, and today he is the owner of 
several fine farms, together with a large 
amount of town property, both improved 
and unimproved. He has made two or 
three additions to the city of Bluffton and 
has given much time and financial encour- 
agement to public improvement. In an 
early day he was interested with others in 
the Blufifton and Fort Wayne plank road, 
and in 185 1 was largely concerned with the 
putting through of the Fort Wayne & South- 
ern Railroad, w^hich was graded through 
Wells county, but which, by reason of the 
stringency of the money market, was not 
completed for a long term of years. In 1869 
the project was revived and largely through 
the energy and well directed efforts of the 
subject the road was finally completed and 
put into active operation. 

In his political proclivities [Mr. Studa- 
baker was originally an advocate of the 
principles of the Whig party, which cause 
he supported until the organization of the 
Republican party, when he identified him- 
self with the latter, continuing his allegi- 
ance until the year 1876, w^hen he espoused 



the principles of the Greenback party, in 
which connection he was twice on its state 
ticket, also becoming a candidate for con- 
gress. His party being in the minority, he 
suflfered defeat on each occasion. During 
his entire life he has been an earnest advo- 
cate of temperance, and believing that no 
restriction of practical order could be ap- 
plied to the doing away of the obnoxious 
liquor traffic through the medium of the 
two dominant national parties, he placed 
himself stanchly in line as a supporter of the 
Prohibition party, identified himself there- 
with in 1884 and casting his vote for St. 
John for President. 

In 1843 Mr. Studabaker became a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
his daily life has show^n that his faith is one 
of earnestness and sincerity — a faith that 
makes faithful. In the spread of the gospel 
he has contributed liberally of his means, 
and he aided to a conspicuous extent in the 
erection of the fine edifice of the Alethodist 
church at Bluffton, the ground upon which 
the church is built being contributed by him. 
In his younger days he was an active worker 
in the Sunday school, but within late years 
he has felt that his advanced age has inca- 
pacitated him for activity in that branch of 
the Lord's work. 

Airs. Studabaker has been for more than 
half a century a devoted member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. She is also 
an active worker in the cause of the ^^'o- 
man's Christian Temperance Union, and is 
a valuable helpmeet to her husband in his 
labor of love for humanity in fighting that 
great curse — the saloon evil. 

This review of the life of the honored 
subject is necessarily general in its char- 
acter. To enter fully into the interesting 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



details of his life, touching the struggles of 
his early manhood and successes of later 
days, would require almost a volume in it- 
self. Enough has been submitted, how- 
ever, to prove that he is entitled to a place 
in the front ranks of the brave, determined, 
energetic and self-made men of Indiana, 
those who by pluck, enterprise and un- 
swerving honor have wrought from the wil- 
derness a state second to none in the grand 
constellation comprising the Union, and the 
name of this patriarchal citizen will be re- 
vered in Blufifton for all time to come. 



PHILO ROGERS. 



The gentleman to a brief review of 
whose life and characteristics the reader's 
attention is herewith directed is among the 
foremost business men of Wells county and 
has b}' his enterprise and progressive meth- 
ods contributed in a material way to the in- 
dustrial and commercial advancement of 
the city and county. He has in the course 
of an honorable career been most success- 
ful in the business enterprises with which 
he has been and is now connected, and is 
well deserving of mention in a volume of 
this character. 

Philo Rogers was born in Huntington 
county, Indiana, on the 31st of March, 
1850, and is the son of Nathan W. and 
Jane (Sparks) Rogers. The Rogers fam- 
ily is from Ohio, where the subject's father 
was a mail carrier in an early day, his route 
lying between Greenville, Ohio, and Hunt- 
ington, Indiana. The subject's maternal an- 
cestors were from Virginia, but came to 
Indiana and settled in Rock Creek township. 



\\'ells county, of which section they were 
pioneers. When the subject was but four 
months old his mother was removed by 
death. .Vt a very early age he was bound 
out to Amos Curry, the well-known mer- 
chant and banker of this county. In his 
youth he was given the advantages of a 
common school education, and as he was 
energetic and ambitious he took advantage 
of all the opportunities that came his way 
of adding to his store of knowledge, at 
length becoming a thoroughly well in- 
formed man. Mr. Rogers remained with 
Mr. Curry and when the latter went into the 
dry goods business in 1862 he remained 
with him as clerk, also working at times 
upon the farm. In 1865 Mr. Curry sold 
his store at Markel and came to Blufifton, 
where he engaged as a farmer, merchant 
and banker. By close association with his 
employer, a man of broad experience and 
splendid business qualifications, young 
Rogers acciuired splendid ideas as to up-to- 
date business methods and became in due 
time a valuable employee. In 1872 he was 
admitted into a partnership with Mr. Curry 
in the dry goods business, an arrangement 
which continued until 1876, at which time 
he entered the bank in the capacity of cash- 
ier. He remained in this position two years 
and then returned to his former business. 
In 1880 he went into business for himself 
in partnership with Henry Deam, but at 
the end of two years he assumed full control 
of the business until 1886. S. Bender then 
became a partner in the business, an ar- 
rangement which continued for four years, 
at the end of which time Mr. Rogers went 
into the hardware business and is at the 
present tim.e associated with Amos Cole. 
They carry a large and well-assorted stock 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



103 



of shelf and heavy hardware and all kinds 
of agricultural implements, are both pleas- 
ant and agreeable in manner, accommodat- 
ing and courteous, and have built up a flat- 
tering patronage, their customers coming 
from distant points in this and adjoining- 
counties. 

In 1872 Mr. Rogers was united in the 
holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mariah 
Prillaman, the daughter of Lewis Prilla- 
man, and to them have been born three chil- 
dren. Lizzie, the wife of Dr. L. W. Dailey, 
Wharton W., a graduate of the Bluff ton 
high school, and Jessie, now deceased. Mrs. 
Rogers is a kind and pleasant lady, pos- 
sessed of those womanly graces which are so 
certain to win and retain friends, and she 
numbers her friends by the score. Politi- 
cally Mr. Rogers is a firm and uncom- 
promising Republican and takes a promi- 
nent part in advancing the interests of his 
party in Wells county. He is well read and 
watches closely the trend of passing events. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership 
in the subordinate lodge at Bluffton. The 
family are members of the Baptist church 
and are faithful and consistent in the per- 
formance of their religious duties. The 
subject is a very public spirited citizen and 
has been foremost in every enterprise for ad- 
vancing the prosperity of his community, 
contributing liberally from his means and 
exercising his personal influence with others, 
and his name is a synonym for all that is 
good and true wherever it is known. 

^Irs. Rogers' father, Lewis Prillaman, 
was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 
26, 1825, and was the oldest son of nine 
children born to William and Sarah Prilla- 
man, both natives of Virginia, and the 
grandson of Christopher Prillaman. The 



latter was of German extraction, and his 
wife, whose maiden name was Obadiah 
Winter, was a native of New Jersey and of 
English parentage. William Prillaman 
moved with his family to Wells county May 
14, 1838, and located in section 12, Harri- 
son township. He was a prominent and 
well known citizen and to marked extent 
held the confidence of the people. He 
served acceptably in the important ofifice of 
county commissioner, and in the winter of 
1842-3 represented his county in the state 
legislature. He started in Wells county 
without means, but by the exercise of sound 
judgment, wise discrimination and economy 
became a well-to-do man. He and his wife 
were faithful and consistent members of the 
Christian church, whose simple doctrines 
they exemplified in their daily lives. He 
died March 16, 1855, and his wife died 
April 8, 1873. Lewis Prillaman was a lad 
of but thirteen years when brought by his 
parents to Wiells county, but even at that 
early age nobly performed his part in clear- 
ing up land and working it fit for cultiva- 
tion. His educational privileges were lim- 
ited, but he was of a studious disposition 
and ambitious, and all his leisure time was 
assiduously devoted to the acquiring of 
knowledge. In 1845 he was granted license 
to teach and taught school in this county 
for twelve dollars per month. He married 
Miss Maria Studabaker, the daughter of 
William Studabaker, and in 1853 he pur- 
chased his father's farm, to which he after- 
ward gave his attention. He and his wife 
became the parents of eleven children, Mrs. 
Rogers being the only child living of the 
first marriage. Mr. Prillaman was a mem- 
ber of the Christian church and was one of 
the substantial and highly esteemed resi- 
dents of his county. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



HON. GEORGE E. FULTON. 

Tlie family of which the subject of this 
review is an honorable representative has 
long been identified with the history of 
northeastern Indiana and in each succeed- 
ing generation it has furnished the business 
and professional world with men of eminent 
ability and sterling worth. Prominent 
among these is Hon. George E. Fulton, 
whose position as a distinguished physician 
and surgeon rests upon an assfired founda- 
tion and whose career as a legislator is cred- 
itable alike to himself and to the county 
honored by his citizenship. The Doctor is 
proud to claim the county of Wells as his 
native JTOme, having spent the greater part 
of his life and achieved his professional suc- 
cess within its borders. His father, John 
Fulton, and his mother, who bore the maid- 
en name of Sarah Egbert, were born in 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the 
former a son of James Fulton, of whose 
family history a more complete account will 
be found elsewhere in these pages. The 
subject was born in the town of Ossian on 
the 8th day of October, 1855, and at the age 
of three years lost his father, the mother 
dying when he was a lad of eight. The sev- 
ering of family ties by the ruthless hand of 
death caused the youth to find a home with 
relatives who took him to Illinois and later 
til Iowa, in which state liis early educational 
discipline was acquired. After completing 
the common school course he pursued his 
studies for some time in the Sioux City 
high school, after which he spent several 
years steamboating on the Missouri and 
Mississippi rivers, finally stopping at the 
city of New Orleans, where for a period of 
three years he served in the capacity of hotel 
clerk. After these varied experiences it be- 



came necessary for him to make choice of 
some profession or vocation for a life work. 
His tastes and inclinations leading him to 
decide upon medicine, he took a prelimi- 
nary course of reading under the direction 
of competent instructors and then entered 
Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
from w^hich he graduated with an honorable 
record in the year 1878. Receiving his de- 
gree, Dr. Fulton returned to his native city 
and entering the office of his brother, J. C. 
Fulton, at Murray, was soon in the enjoy- 
ment of a lucrative practice, which contin- 
ued unabated until his removal to a large 
and more inviting field at Blufifton four 
years later. During the last twenty years 
he has maintained an office in the latter 
place, building up an extensive business, 
second to that of no other medical man in 
this part of the state, and continually adding 
to his reputation as an eminent physician 
and surgeon. Dr. Fulton stands adiuittedly 
in the front ranks of Wells county's distin- 
guished professional men, possessing a 
thoroughly disciplined mind and keeping in 
close touch with the trend of modern 
thought relating to the noble calling to 
which his life and energies have been de- 
voted. He has ever maintained his high 
standing, never descending beneath the dig- 
nity of his profession nor compromising his 
usefulness by countenancing any but noble 
and legitimate practice. The apparent ease 
with which he has mounted to his present 
commanding position in the healing art 
marks him as the possessor of talents be- 
yond the majority of his professional 
brethren and, being a close and critical stu- 
dent, he experiences no difficulty in sustain- 
ing the high reputation which his profes- 
sional abilities and marked success have 
earned for him. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



105 



While primarily interested in his life 
work. Dr. I-'ulton has not been unmindful of 
the duties which every citizen owes to the 
public. He has ever taken an active part in 
promoting the material welfare of his city 
and county, aiding with his influence and 
means ail enterprises with that object in 
view. In politics he is pronounced in his 
allegiance to the Democratic party and for 
a number of years has been one of its recog- 
nized leaders in this section of the state. He 
has never been an aspirant for official hon- 
ors, but in 1888, at the earnest solicitation 
of many friends, he permitted his name to 
be placed on the ticket as a candidate for 
representative to the lower house of the 
general assembly. He was easily elected 
and his career as a lawmaker proved emi- 
nently satisfactory to his constituency re- 
gardless of party affiliation, resulting in his 
re-election in 1890. While a member of 
the legislature he served on some of the 
most important committees, took not only 
an active but influential part in the general 
deliberations of the body, his ability as a 
public speaker always commanding the 
most respectful attention from both sides of 
the house. He introduced a number of bills 
which became laws, beside being instrumen- 
tal in bringing about much important legis- 
lation which has had a beneficial influence 
upon the state in many ways. Dr. Fulton 
is an accomplished campaigner, contribut- 
ing greatly to the success of the cause on 
the hustings as well as by judicious advice 
in party councils. While deeply interested 
in public matters in general, he does not 
let these things interfere with the success- 
ful prosecution of his professional duties. 
He holds himself in readiness to answer the 
numerous calls for services at all hours and 



rarely does he permit the matter of remun- 
eration to prevent him from alleviating suf- 
fering, be the patient ever so poor or hum- 
ble. Some years ago he served as health 
officer to Wells county and for the city of 
Blufifton for six years'. He is a member of 
the county and state medical societies, hav- 
ing served as president and secretary of the 
former, and not infrequently has he read 
before these bodies carefully prepared 
papers evincing ripe scholarship, critical 
analysis and original and profound investi- 
gation. For a period of twelve years he has 
been holding the position of surgeon for the 
Clover Leaf Railroad, during which time 
he has performed many delicate operations 
and saved lives which but for his skill w-ould 
have been lost. Fraternally the Doctor is 
a member of the Pythian order and relig- 
iously subscribes to the Presbyterian creed. 
Believing that religion is largely a matter 
of the conscience, he is tolerant in his opin- 
ion, believing all churches to be great moral 
and spiritual forces calculated to save men 
from their sins and win them to a high life 
here and an infinitely better and grander 
state of existence hereafter. Dr. Fulton was 
married in i88r to Miss Mary Mosy, who 
departed this life on the 20th day of June, 
1892, the mother of two children, Anna and 
Jane, the latter dying January 16. 1892. The 
Doctor's present wife, whom he married in 
1894. was formerly Miss Elizabeth Muth. 



HON. LEVI :\IOCK 



Among Indiana's distinguished sons and 
leading men of aflfairs the name of Hon. 
Levi Mock, of Blufifton, has long been pre- 
eminent. Of commanding intellectual 



[06 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ability and eminent professional attain- 
ments, he has been a forceful factor in the 
legal circles of the state, while as a direc- 
tor of thought and moulder of opinion he is 
duly recognized and appreciated by his fel- 
low citizens of Bluffton and Wells county. 
Paternally Mr. Mock is descended from 
German ancestry and inherits in a marked 
degree the sturdy characteristics and ster- 
ling qualities for which that nationality is 
distinguished among the peoples of the 
world. His great-grandfather, Devaulter 
Mock, was a native of the Fatherland, came 
to America in the time of the colonies and 
settled in North Carolina, where he reared 
a family and lived the life of an honest, in- 
dustrious and, to a considerable extent, a 
successful tiller of the soil. i\mong his 
children was a son by the name of Daniel, 
whose birth occurred in North Carolina, 
and whose marriage was also solemnized in 
that state. Shortly after taking to himself 
a wife Daniel Mock moved to Ohio, thence 
a little later migrated to what is now Ran- 
dolph county. Indiana, but at that time the 
western verge of civilization, settling in the 
beautiful valley of the Mississinnewa, 
where he afterwards entered lands and de- 
veloped a farm and became one of the most 
enterprising and progressive men of the 
community which he assisted to establish. It 
is a well authenticated fact that Mr. Mock 
was the third white man to locate a home 
within the present limits of Randolph 
county, and the part he took in the early 
growth and development of the country en- 
titles him to specific mention as one of its 
most aggressive pioneers. Physically he 
was almost a giant and moved among his 
fellows as one born to command. Five feet 
ten inches in height and measuring forty- 



five inches around the chest and correspond- 
ingly strong, he was a remarkable speci- 
men of symmetrically developed manhood, 
being as honest and honorable in his deal- 
ings and as unsullied in character as his 
bodily powers were vigorous. Possessing 
excellent judgment and strict integrity, he 
became useful to the early settlers in the ad- 
justment of their business affairs and his 
advice was eagerly sought and acted upon 
in matters of more than ordinary moment 
involving a knowledge of law. Daniel 
Mock was three times married and had 
children by each wife, the majority of 
whom grew to mature years and became 
useful in their various spheres of life. En- 
joying superb health, he lived to a good old 
age in possession of his physical and mental 
faculties, having never lost a tooth nor at 
any time attempted to aid his eyesight by 
the use of glasses. He departed this life at 
the age of eighty-four, honored and es- 
teemed by all who knew him, leaving to his 
descendants the memory of a name untarn- 
ished by the slightest suspicion of anything 
savoring of dishonor. 

Emsley Mock, son of Daniel Mock and 
father of the immediate subject of this re- 
view, was born in Ohio in 1813 and when a 
small boy accompanied his parents to the 
new home in the wilds of the Mississinne- 
wa. He was reared to young manhood 
amid the pioneer scenes of Randolph 
county, chose agriculture as the vocation 
best suited to his taste and inclinations and 
continued that pursuit near where the fam- 
ily originally settled until 1869 when he 
sold his possessions and divided the greater 
part of the proceeds among his children. 
By industry and good management he not 
only made a fine farm but succeeded in ac- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



107 



cumulating an ample competence, with the 
residue of which he came to Wells county 
the above year and purchased a small estate 
near the city of Bluffton. Here he spent 
the remaining years of his life as a con- 
tented agriculturist until called ' from the 
scenes of his earthly labors on the 3rd day 
of January, 1877. Like his father before 
him, Emsley Mock was a man of herculean 
physique and strength, attaining a height 
of six feet five and one-half inches and 
weighing in health upon an average of two 
hundred and twenty-five pounds. He was 
superbly developed mentally as well as phys- 
ically, independent in thought and action, 
and the soul of honor in all that constituted 
true manhood and upright citizenship. His 
name was a synonym for integrity, his 
word among his fellows was taken in lieu 
of his bond in business transactions and the 
correctness and purity of his motives were 
never questioned by any one with whom he 
had dealings. A profound student of the 
sacred scriptures, he so believed in the good- 
ness and overreaching mercy of an allwise 
Father as to disassociate his name from the 
idea of everlasting punishment, a favorite 
doctrine at that time among orthodox 
churches and much more frequently dis- 
cussed than at the present day. His read- 
ing and investigation led him to accept the 
beautiful doctrine of the final salvation of 
the human race, as consistent with the na- 
ture and attributes of God, and he lived in 
that faith for a number of years, later in 
life becoming a spiritualist, a belief from 
which he also derived much pleasure and 
genuine satisfaction. The wife of Emsley 
Mock bore the maiden name of Ruth Wat- 
son; she was the daughter of James Wat- 
son, a native of Pennsvlvania, and first saw 



the light of day in that state, but grew to 
maturity near Jamestown, Ohio, where her 
father moved when she was quite a small 
child. The Watsons were of Irish lineage 
and members of the family achieved much 
more than local distinction in different pro- 
fessions and vocations. A brother of Mrs. 
Mock, Hon. Enos L. Watson, became an 
eminent member of the Indiana bar and 
practiced his profession at Winchester for 
a number of years with distinguished suc- 
cess. His son, Hon. James E. Watson, of 
that city, is one of the brilliant orators of 
the west and for four consecutive terms 
represented his district in the congress of 
the United States. Mrs. Mock was born in 
the year 18 16 and died at Bluffton in 1897. 
She became widely known as a leader 
among the spiritualists of Indiana, took ad- 
vanced grounds in the advocacy of that be- 
lief and for a number of years shone as one 
of the cult's most brilliant and influential 
stars. She was a lady of strong mentality, 
wide reading and beautiful moral charac- 
ter and her influence had much to do in 
forming the life and shaping the destiny 
of her distinguished son whose name fur- 
nishes the caption of this article. Emsley 
and Ruth Mock were the parents of three 
sons and one daughter; the latter's name 
was Rachel, and when a young woman she 
became the wife of Emanuel Trostel, of 
Randolph county, her death subsequently 
occurring in this city. John G., the second 
in order of birth, is a well known and pros- 
perous farmer now pursuing his vocation • 
in the county of Wells. The third in suc- 
cession is Levi, who is the immediate sub- 
ject of this review, after whom comes 
James D.. also a successful agriculturist of 
this countv. 



io8 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



Levi Mock was born April 20, 1840, in 
Randolph county, Indiana, and to him fell 
the good fortune of being reared in close 
touch with nature on the farm, that fruit- 
ful soil from which has sprung much of the 
nation's political sinew and moral fiber. 
With the exception of the time spent as a 
soldier, he remained on the home place un- 
til his twenty-sixth year, attending to the 
varied duties of the farm in the summer and 
of winter seasons prosecuting his studies 
in the public schools of the neighborhood. 
After completing the usual course he se- 
cured a teacher's license and for some years 
divided his time between teaching and at- 
tending school, devoting the fall months to 
the latter and the winter and early spring 
to the farm. Blessed with excellent par- 
entage, young Mock grew up with intelli- 
gent conceptions of life and the dignity of 
honest, honorable endeavor. Inheriting 
from his father the splendid physical and 
mental qualities for which the paternal 
branch of the family had long been noted, 
and from his mother equally marked intel- 
lectual traits, softened perhaps by the gentle 
feminine graces which were among her dis- 
tinguishing characteristics, he early devel- 
oped vigor of bod)' and independence of 
mind which enabled him to formulate plans 
for his future course of life and action. 
With a well defined object in view, he de- 
termined to make the most of his time and 
circumstances and that he succeeded in car- 
rying out these purposes and realizing in 
full the ambitious desires of his youthful 
days is attested by the distinguished course 
he has since pursued as an influential factor 
in the political arena and that eminent po- 
sition which he has attained in professional 
circles and in the world of affairs. When 



the national atmosphere became overcast 
with the approaching clouds of civil war. 
Mr. Mock did not long discuss the advisa- 
bility of tendering his services to the gov- 
ernment in its hour of need. Animated by 
patriotic motives, he laid aside his studies 
and on the 14th of August, 1862, enlisted in 
Company E, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, which formed part of the 
Fourth Army Corps. He saw considerable 
active service in West Virginia and Ken- 
tucky, sharing with his comrades the vicis- 
situdes and fortunes of war until failing- 
health obliged him to leave the ranks and 
take treatment in a hospital. For a period 
of sixty-six days he was closely confined 
to one room and such were the sad effects 
which disease made upon his erstwhile vig- 
orous constitution that at the end of that 
time he was pronounced unfit for further 
effective duty, accordingly in April, 1863, 
he received his discharge and as soon as 
possible thereafter he returned to his old 
home, where, under more salutary influ- 
ences and surroundings, he in due time 
regained a goodly portion of his wonted 
health. 

As soon as sufficiently recovered >Ir. 
Mock resumed his studies, which, with 
teaching, engaged his time until 1866. when 
he began reading law under the guidance of 
his uncle, Hon. Enos L. Watson, of Win- 
chester. Much of his study was prosecuted 
at home during his hours of leisure and with 
such assiduity did he apply himself to his 
books that his Sundays were devoted ex- 
clusively to their perusal and not infre- 
quently would he pore over his text of 
nights until the still small hours of the morn- 
ing admonished him to recuperate his jaded 
energies with a little sleep. Meanwhile he 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



109 



would recite to his uncle at stated intervals, 
receive his instruction, and in this way he 
continued his investigations in the realm 
of legal science until sufficiently advanced 
to engage in the practice. Mr. Mock's pre- 
liminary studies covered a period of about 
two years, at the expiration of which time 
he located at Bluffton where, in February. 
1869, he was formally admitteil to the bar. 
Here he soon made his presence felt, not 
alone in his profession, but also in local poli- 
tics as is attested by the fact of his election 
as mayor of the city within nine months 
after his arrival. So ably did he dis- 
charge the duties of this position that he 
was retained in the office by successive re- 
elections from the year 1869 to 1873 inclu- 
sive, and in 1875 he was again made the 
city's chief executive, serving in all eight 
years, the last two under the amended char- 
ter which extended the term of mayor to 
two years. In 1870 Mr. Mock entered into 
a law partnership with Hon. Joseph S. Dai- 
ley, the firm thus constituted lasting for a 
period of eighteen years, during which time 
it built up a business second in volume and 
importance to that of no other legal firm in 
northeastern Indiana, the two distinguish- 
ed members easily ranking with the ablest 
and most successful lawyers in this section 
of the state. They represented either the 
plaintiff or defendant in nearl}- everv im- 
portant case tried in the courts of Wells 
county during the existence of the partner- 
ship, in addition to which their practice ex- 
tended to many other counties, also to the 
supreme and federal courts where the}- 
added to their already firmly established rep- 
utations as masters of their profession. 
The firm of Dailey & Mock was dissolved by 
the appointment of the former to the circuit 



judgeship, from which time Mr. Mock was 
with Abe Simmons in the practice until 
about 1895 when he took John and George, 
his two sons, who have since been partners, 
under the name of Mock & Sons. 

By the sheer force of his powerful per- 
sonality, as well by reason of combining 
within himself the essential elements of lead- 
ership, Mr. Mock forged to the front in the 
councils of the Democratic party and within 
a short time after locating at Bluffton be- 
came an acknowledged power in local and 
state politics. In 1882 he was elected joint 
representative from the counties of Adams, 
Jay and Wells to the general assembly, and 
two }ears later served in the legislature 
from Wells and Blackford counties and in 
1886 was elected from Wells county. His 
career as a law maker fully justified the 
wisdom of his choice and with little or no 
exception met the high expectations of his 
constituents irrespective of party. He be- 
came one of the most influential members 
of the body and both in the committee room 
and on the floor did much towards mould- 
ing public thought and shaping legislation. 
Through his instrumentality many impor- 
tant laws were passed which have had a de- 
cidedly beneficial influence on the state and 
as a leader of the Democratic side of the 
house he was untiring in his efforts to 
strengthen party lines and promote a spirit 
of harmony in the organization throughout 
Indiana. For four years, beginning with 
the year 1889 and ending with 1893, 
Mr. Mock was a member of the board 
of directors of the Northern Indiana Prison 
at Michigan City, in which capacity his busi- 
ness-like methods and untiring efforts were 
of especial value to the state. He looked 
carefully after the interest of this institu- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tion and the welfare of its inmates, and took 
advanced grounds as to the proper manage- 
ment and treatment of the criminal classes. 
The board's report to the governor contains 
the following statement expressive of his 
views upon this important matter : "The 
board is of the opinion that crime is a dis- 
ease resulting from heredity and environ- 
ment, and that no man should be punished 
for what he does, but should be imprisoned 
to protect society, and while in prison it is 
the duty of the state to elevate his manhood 
to a higher standard if possible, which can 
only be done by moderate labor, kind treat- 
ment and moral suasion." This broad hu- 
manitarian view of one of the most difficult 
and perplexing pi-oblems that has been en- 
gaging the attention of the management of 
penal institutions, although in advance of 
the age, was not without a decided effect 
upon the chief executive and law-making 
power, for since the adoption of the report 
the Southern Prison has been made an in- 
firmary, thus revolutionizing the govern- 
ment of the two institutions which formerly 
obtained. 

Mr. Mock has long been interested in 
the agricultural development of his own 
and other counties and has done much to 
encourage and foster modern methods of 
farming and other industries growing out 
of husbandry. In 1879 ^^ was elected pres- 
ident of the Wells County Agricultural 
Society and during his incumbency devoted 
much time and energy to place the organi- 
zation upon a firm financial basis so that it 
would answer the noble purposes for which 
it was originally designed. Additional to 
the official stations already referred to, he 
has been identified at different times with 
various enterprises calculated to promote 



the industrial growth of Bluffton, while all 
movements having for their end the mater- 
ial prosperity of the city or county have 
been sure of his encouragement and sup- 
port. He is indeed public spirited, taking 
an active interest in whatever tends to the 
material advancement of the community and, 
having implicit faith in the future of the 
city of his residence, has done as much if 
not more than any of his fellow citizens to 
advertise its advantages to the world as a 
favorable business center, a safe place 
wherein to invest capital and a desirable 
residence location. 

Reference has already been made to Mr. 
Mock's power and influence as a politician. 
In every campaign his voice is heard and as 
a strong, logical and eloquent speaker he has 
few superiors on the hustings in the state. 
Thoroughly grounded in the basic princi- 
ples of jurisprudence and familiar with the 
intricacies of practice, he stands with few 
peers as an able and conscientious lawyer, 
looking upon his profession as the means by 
which wrongs may be righted, justice done 
and society and the state protected. .\t dif- 
ferent times he has been called to the bench 
and there, as liefore the court, his attain- 
ments have shone with peculiar luster, fully 
demonstrating a masterh- grasp of great le- 
gal questions and an ability to render decis- 
ions in strict harmony with the letter and 
the spirit of the law. He served as special 
judge in the courts of Wells, Adams, Jay, 
Blackford, Huntington, Allen and Grant 
counties, frequently occupying the bench for 
weeks at a time, and while serving thus his 
opinions were characterized by lucidity and 
great legal acumen, his rulings were fair 
and impartial and his decisions, devoid of 
technical verbiage, but clear, explicit, incis- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ive and embodying every point at issue, sel- 
dom if ever suffered reversal at the hands of 
the supreme court. 

Personally Mr. Mock is a gentleman of 
unblemished reputation and the strictest in- 
tegrity and his private character as well as 
his career in public places and as custodian 
of high and important trusts has always 
been above reproach. He is a vigorous as 
well as an independent thinker and has the 
courage of his convictions upon all subjects 
which he investigates. He is also strikingly 
original, prosecutes his researches after his 
own peculiar fashion and cares little for con- 
ventionalism or for the sanctity attaching 
to person or place by reason of artificial dis- 
tinction, accident of birth or tradition. He 
is essentially cosmopolitan in his ideas, a 
man of the people in all the term implies 
and in the best sense of the word a repre- 
sentative type of that strong, virile Ameri- 
can manhood which commands and retains 
respect by reason of inherent merit, sound 
sense and correct conduct. Like his father 
and grandfather before him, Mr. Mock is a 
man of heroic mould and superb physical 
proportions. His commanding height of 
six and a half feet and correspondingly 
large but well knit frame, weighing two 
hundred and sixty pounds, makes him a 
marked figure wherever he goes and he is 
sure to attract attention in an}' crowd or as- 
semblage as a man born to leadership. With 
his splendid build he likewise possesses al- 
most unlimited endurance and knows not 
by practical experience the meaning of 
weariness or fatigue such as the average 
mortal feels. Mr. Mock is a great lover of 
manly sports and nearly every year finds 
pleasure in hunting bear, deer and other 
game in the forests of Michigan, Arkansas, 



Minnesota and other western states and ter- 
ritories, frequently prolonging these ex- 
cursions for weeks and months in the pur- 
suit of his favorite pastime. He is usually 
accompanied by a few congenial spirits and 
in this way, far from the distractions of 
courts and the trammels of civilization, they 
throw care to the winds, forget their an- 
noyances in the joys of the hour and for 
one brief season at least get in close touch 
with nature by throwing off artificial re- 
straints and imbibing in some degree the un- 
seen spirit pervading the universe. 

Mr. Mock is a man of domestic tastes 
and takes a loving interest in ithe beautiful 
and attractive home of which he is the head. 
He was happily married on the 19th of No- 
vember, 187 1, to Miss Rebecca C. Patter- 
son, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Mc- 
Farlin) Patterson, who moved to this 
county in an early day from Beaver 
county, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Mock 
was born. Mr. and Mrs. Mock are the par- 
ents of three children, John, George and 
Charles, the first two members of the Bluff- 
ton bar and associated with their father in 
the practice under the firm name of Mock 
& Sons. They read law under the father's 
direction and each was admitted to the bar 
on the day he attained his majority. Mr. 
Mock has been an active member of the 
Masonic fraternity for over thirty years and 
stands high in the order, having taken a 
number of degrees, including that of the 
Royal Arch. He is also identified with the 
Improved Order of Red Men, being a char- 
ter member of the camp meeting in Bluff- 
ion, and is also a charter member of the 
Elks. A careful and conscientious investi- 
gation of spiritualism led him to accept that 
beautiful and satisfactory belief and he is 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



now one of its most intelligent advocates, 
tiiough by no means narrow or intolerant 
in his views, according to everybody the 
same right of opinion which he claims for 
himself. 



CHARLES C. SIXBEY. 

It requires a master mind to rise super- 
ior to discouraging environments and estab- 
lish, successfully guide and control large 
and important industrial enterprises. The 
necessary ability to accomplish such results 
is possessed in an eminent degree by 
Charles C. Sixbey, one of Bluffton's leading- 
citizens and a typical western business man 
of tireless energy, unfaltering perseverance, 
keen discrimination and absolute reliabil- 
ity. Few men have done as much in the 
same length of time as he and it is fitting in 
this connection that a brief outline of his 
life and achievements be given, as his 
friends and acquaintances throughout the 
state are many and will no doubt gladly 
peruse the record. Mr. Sixbey's father was 
Col. John Sixbey, a native of New York, 
born and reared in what was formerly 
known as the Big North Woods, a section 
of country one hundred miles long by eigh- 
ty miles wide bordering on the St. Law- 
rence river in Herkimer county. For many 
years the men of that region were noted 
for their great physical strength and endur- 
ance and also for sturdiness of character 
and resoluteness of purpose in carrying to 
successful conclusion any undertaking to 
which they addressed themselves. 

Col. Sixbey and five sons, three of 
whom entered the service of their country 
in the late war and fell while bravely fight- 



ing to maintain the integrity of the union. 
John, the oldest, was killed in the battle of 
Fair Oaks, Virginia; Nicholas fought un- 
der the brave Gen. Lyon at Wilson's Creek, 
Missouri, and met his death on that bloody 
field; Jerome received his death wound in 
the engagement at Nelson's farm ; Charles 
met with an accidental death at home in 
the year 1849; the subject of this sketch 
was named for the last mentioned. In ad- 
dition to the five sons, there were six daugh- 
ters in the family, the majority of whom 
grew to mature years and became well set- 
tled in life. 

Charles C. Sixbey was born in Salis- 
bur}', Herkimer county. New York, De- 
cember 22„ 1 85 1, and spent his early life on 
a farm, with the duties of which he soon be- 
came familiar. In addition to agricultural 
pursuits he also worked in a tannery and at 
times assisted his father in the lumber busi- 
ness, which the latter carried on for a num- 
ber of )'ears. By reason of his services be- 
ing required at home, his early educational 
training was somewhat limited, but later, 
about 1868, he entered Elgin Academy, 
Elgin, Illinois, which he attended one year, 
making rapid progress in his studies during 
that time. With his father's aid he after- 
wards supplemented the above course by 
attending for several sessions the Fairfield 
Academy, Fairfield, New York, where he 
laid a broad and deep foundation for his 
subsequent career of usefulness in the busi- 
ness and industrial world. When a young 
man Mr. Sixbey entered the employ of the 
Peters Box and Lumber Company. Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, with which he continued 
about two years and later worked for some 
time in a factory operated by ]\Ir. Pope. 
When he arri\-ed in that citv he could not 




y^Ap^^ 




WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



"3 



boast the possession of a single dollar and 
some time elapsed before he found himself 
even in comfortable circumstances. While 
in Fort Wayne he was employed in differ- 
ent capacities, a part of the time being 
engaged with a luml:)er company and 
later working for a firm which manu- 
factured pails. During the year 1879 he 
was employed by one John Peters at 
eighty-five cents per day, but before quit- 
ting that gentleman's service he was pro- 
moted foreman of the establishment and in 
that capacity greatly enlarged the magni- 
tude and widened the scope of the business. 
\Miile exercising his duties as manager of 
the above concern Mr. Sixbey began deal- 
ing in wood on his own responsibility and 
after severing his connection with his em- 
ployer devoted his "attention for some time 
to the latter business. He ran a wood yard, 
which was well patronized, but later dis- 
posed of the same and in 188 1 embarked in 
the lumber business at the town of Sheldon. 
This venture not being remunerative, he dis- 
continued it after a short time and purchas- 
ing a separator, engaged in the threshing 
of grain, following the same for only a lim- 
ited period. 

Up to this time Mr. Sixbey's business 
enterprises had not been very successful and 
his financial condition was anything but en- 
couraging. On one occasion he was refused 
credit for a pair of shoes, but later had the 
satisfaction of opening a store hard by the 
one in which he requested the favor and be- 
came the unfeeling merchant's more formid- 
able competitor in the world of trade. Be- 
ginning on credit, he soon built up a large 
and lucrative trade, in due time becoming 
one of the most prosperous and successful 
merchants in the village of Sheldon. Dis- 



posing of his stock in 1883, Mr. Sixbey came 
to Bluffton and opened a mercantile estab- 
lishment in the building now occupied by 
the Williamson Hardware Company. En- 
joying first rate credit with the leading 
wholesale houses of Ft. Wayne, he purchased 
a large and carefully selected assortment of 
groceries, subsequently adding boots, shoes, 
dry goods and gents' furnishing goods, and 
within a comparatively short time his place 
became one of the best known and most ex- 
tensively patronized mercantile establish- 
ments in the city. He commanded a large 
trade not only in Bluffton and from all parts 
of Wells county, but extended patronage 
throughout adjoining counties, his sales for 
the first year amounting to considerably in 
excess of forty thousand dollars. The con- 
tmued increase of custom soon rendered 
necessary a building of enlarged proportions, 
accordingly he purchased the old Presbyter- 
ian church, which when thoroughly re- 
modeled afforded him a very capacious and 
convenient room in which to meet the de- 
mands of the trade. The continued growth 
of the city and the consequent advancement 
of his own mercantile interests led Mr. Six- 
bey afterwards to erect a still larger and 
more commodious brick edifice on Market 
street. The capital required in putting up 
this block and the business depression which 
almost immediately followed caused Mr. 
Sixbey considerable financial embarrass- 
ment. Like many other merchants at that 
period, he failed to realize on outstanding 
obligations and not being able to meet his 
own bills as they became due, decided after 
struggling earnestly and manfully against 
adverse circumstances to retire from mercan- 
tile business. 

By no means discouraged Mr. Sixbey at 



14 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



once began to look around and contrive some 
means to retrieve his fortune. He was with- 
out means to embark again in merchandis- 
ing, having finally paid up his outstanding 
obligations in full, consequently he was 
obliged to seek some other undertaking. It 
was at this time that the idea first entered his 
mind of manufacturing a cloth mitten and 
glove, a strong, durable article, but so cheap 
as to be within the purchasing power of the 
poor as Avell as the better class of working 
people. To conceive the idea was with him 
equivalent to acting and it was not long un- 
til he began operations in a little old build- 
ing with a force consisting of two girls and 
one boy, beside himself. He put in a small 
machine and advertising the product to the 
world, began manufacturing at first for the 
local trade, but the superior quality of his 
goods soon created a demand at other places. 
From the outstart the enterprise proved suc- 
cessful beyond his most sanguine expecta- 
tions and within the first two years his trade 
had so grown as to require a larger building 
and a corresponding increase in the force of 
operators. His factory is now one of the 
largest and most important of Bluffton's in- 
dustries, containing one hundred and twenty 
machines and afifording steady employment 
to one hundred and fifty hands, exclusive of 
the large number of salesmen who represent 
the establishment in all of the western, mid- 
dle, southern and several of the eastern states 
and Canada. The constantly increasing de- 
mand for the "Zero Mittens," as they are 
called, taxing the original factory to its ut- 
most capacity, led Mr. Sixbey in 1901 to es- 
tablish a branch at Fort Wayne which now 
gives employment to eighty operators. Still 
later he opened a second branch at Bluffton, 
but such has been the high reputation of his 
goods that the three factories, running at 



full force every working day in the year, are 
not sufficient to fill the large number of or- 
ders which are constantly coming in. 

Mr. Sixbey has done much to promote 
the business and industrial growth of Bluff- 
ton by giving employment to a large force 
of laborers, all of whom spend their money 
in the city. The relations between himself 
and his employes have always been mutually 
pleasant and agreeable and such a condition 
of affairs as a strike or lockout has never 
been known or even contemplated in his es- 
tablishments. He is a natural leader and, pos- 
sessing executive abilities of a high order, 
manages his factories with consummate skill, 
winning the esteem of all in his employ as 
well as of those with whom he transacts busi- 
ness. He is widely known in commercial 
circles throughout the United States, enjoys 
unexceptional standing with the leading 
business agencies of the country and the re- 
markable advancement made since inaugur- 
ating his enterprises in Bluffton may be 
taken as an earnest of a still larger and more 
prosperous career in the future. Mr. Six- 
bey is one of the leading citizens and pro- 
gressive men of Wells county and occupies 
a conspicuous place in the estimation of 
his fellow townsmen. He takes an active 
interest in whatever tends to advance the ma- 
terial growth of the city, supports with a 
liberal hand all worthy enterprises having 
for their object the social and moral wel- 
fare of the community and his influence, 
always strong, has ever been exerted on the 
right side of all local issues. In politics he 
is a Republican, but the urgent nature of his 
business affairs has prevented him taking 
a very lively interest in party matters. Fra- 
ternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
and his name also appears as a charter mem- 
ber of the Elks' lodge in Blufifton. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Mr. Sixbey has been twice married. 
While hving in Ft. Wayne he married Miss 
Edmee Miller, daughter of James Miller, of 
that city, a union blessed with five chil- 
dren, one son and four daughters. Some 
time after the death of the above wife Mr. 
Sixbey was united in marriage to Miss Anna 
Spake, of Bluffton. 

Mr. Sixbey's career has been one of great 
activity, in the main attended by remarkable 
business advancement and financial pros- 
perity. He is essentially progressive in all 
he undertakes and, endowed with the power 
and tact to mould circumstances to suit his 
purpose, his success in overriding adverse 
conditions and mounting to his present high 
and honorable station in the world of affairs 
is such as few attain. Of strong convictions, 
positive character and incorruptible integ- 
rity, he is classed with the most intelligent 
and energetic of Bluffton's representative 
men and holds a warm place in the hearts of 
his fellow citizens. 



HON. M. W. WALBERT. 

The student, possessed of the energy 
and wit to put the knowledge acquired by 
study to good use, need never have fears of 
failure. Knowledge secured by study is a 
good deal like money won by labor. Both 
are species of capital, which if judiciously 
invested must inevitably bring results. Some 
students are mere dreamers who have no 
further use for their knowledge once they 
have been thrilled by the pleasure of getting 
it. The miser with his gold, who has no 
further use for it outside of the pleasure of 
getting and having it, is very much like 
such a student with his knowledge. It is 



very rarely that one hears of the failure of a 
person possessed of judgment, energy and 
a taste for study. Success is the rule of 
people of that bend of mind, failure the ex- 
ception. 

A very striking illustration of this is 
given in the case of Hon. M. W. Walbert, 
of Bluffton. Beginning in very humble 
circumstances, the first years of his boyhood 
spent in the labors of the shop and the fac- 
tory, with little time even for a superficial 
knowledge of books, he nevertheless not 
only mastered the calling of a cooper, but 
fitted himself by his studies for the pro- 
fession of law and later was honored by his 
fellow citizens by being efevated to the po- 
sition of mayor of the city of Bluffton. His 
story reads not a little like that of the re- 
nowned Dick Whittington. who. through 
the instrumentality of his cat. became lord 
mayor of London. 

Hon. M. \\'. Walbert, the son of George 
and Mar}- Wetzel Walbert, was born Febru- 
ary 2, i860, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 
It is asserted that the blood of the famous 
Indian fighters, the Wetzels, flowed in the 
veins of his mother, but of that Mr. Wal- 
bert is too democratic to make any boast. 
From the time he was six years of age un- 
til he attained the age of thirteen he at- 
tended the common school, becoming very 
proficient in all the common school branch- 
es. When not in school, late and early 
each da}-, he assisted his father in his cooper 
shop. Such was the knowledge of the busi- 
ness and such skill in the mechanical details 
of the craft had he acquired that at the age 
of fourteen years he won first prize at a 
county fair for the best specimen of cooper- 
age there exhibited. His competitors were 
men well along in years, who had spent 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



most of their lives at the business. Ever}' 
moment of his leisure time was devoted to 
reading, particularly in the line of history, 
ancient and modern, of which he was pas- 
sionately fond. Very often he trespassed 
upon the hours that should have been al- 
lotted to sleep to indulge his passion for 
books. It was through the fruits of his own 
industry that he was enabled in 1884 and 
1885 to attend Franklin College, which 
gave him the opportunity of rounding out an 
education that might have been Iw many 
others considered already sufficient. He 
taught school one term and then, under di- 
rection of Hon. J. H. C. Smith, began the 
study of law. His studious habits, persist- 
ent application and retentive memory made 
this task, so discouragingly difficult to oth- 
ers, comparatively light for him. The in- 
tricacies of Blackstone, Kent, Greenfield and 
Story he mastered within a brief period of 
years and soon after passed examination, 
was admitted to the bar and regularly H- 
censed to practice. A ])artnership was then 
entered into with his preceptor, Hon. J. H. 
C. Smith, at Blufifton, which continued until 
1 89 1. The firm was recognized as one of 
the ablest at the bar in that part of the state, 
had no lack of clients and met with the most 
gratifying success in every particular. 

In 1889 Mr. Walbert was elected mayor 
of Bluffton. He served the city in that ca- 
pacity until 1894, giving to the people an 
administration that wilt be long remember- 
ed for the improvements that were made. 
During this time the high school, a magnifi- 
cent structure, was erected, the city water 
works were altered, improved and extended 
and the principle of municipal ownership 
was advanced by the city purchasing the 
electric light plant. Many other good 



works and reforms were either entered 
upon or consummated during his administra- 
tion. During his term of office he sat as 
examining magistrate in three murder 
cases and in all species of litigation that 
came before him he showed that he was not 
only well versed in the law, but possessed 
a high order of judicial talent. He was 
mayor of Blufifton for a period of five years 
and four months. 

In politics Mr. Walbert is an active, 
zealous, conscientious Democrat. He is an 
orator of acknowledged ability and his 
services are always in demand on the stump 
during political campaigns. He has a mem- 
ory that may always be relied upon and is 
not excelled by any one in c|uoting from 
memory facts, figures, dates or any kind of 
statistics. He has never sought for or as- 
pired to office. Such public place as he has 
been elected to and filled has come to him 
wholly unsolicited. 

It has been saitl that "the law is a jeal- 
ous mistress," a statement which doubtless 
is true in the case of most of those who 
yearn for the smile of fame and fortune 
through her. Mr. Walbert, however, seems 
to be a law unto himself. He has stolen 
enough time from this jealous mistress to 
dally most successfully with literature. He is 
the author of a work on the national bank- 
ing system that is pronounced, by persons 
competent to judge, a most valuable work, 
not only on the particular system of which 
it treats, but also ui)on the general subject 
of finance. It has been highly compli- 
mented by the press generally and the book 
reviews have accorded it no little praise. 
The readiness and elegance with which he 
expressed himself on paper has cultivated in 
him a liking for newspaper work, so in mo- 



WELLS COUNTY, LNDIANA. 



117 



ments of relaxation from labors in the law- 
he indulges his taste for literature by the 
production of an article on some subject 
familiar to him, for either the local or met- 
ropolitan press. On relinquishing the of- 
fice of mayor he again resumed the practice 
of law, entering into partnership with J. K. 
Rinehart, of Bluffton. At present he is 
holding the office of justice of the peace, 
having been elected thereto in 1900. and is 
discharging the duties of the office in a sat- 
isfactory and creditable manner. 

June 24, 1891, Hon. M. W. Walbert 
was united in marriage to Miss Emma Da- 
vis, an accomplished lady of pleasing man- 
ners and high attainment. She is a graduate 
of the Bluffton high school and was a 
teacher of recognized ability. She is the 
daughter of Milton Davis, a prominent cit- 
izen of Wells county. They are the parents 
of two children, one of whom died in in- 
fancy; the other, Doratha, was born July 
26. 1892. Having been a hard worker him- 
self all his life, Mr. Walbert deeply sympa- 
thizes with the cause of labor, is a member 
of the Federation and never lets an oppor- 
tunity escape unimproved whereby he can 
benefit the cause or anyone engaged in it. 

The star of the subject of this sketch is 
still in the ascendancy. Although having 
in years passed the meridian of life, in phys- 
ical and mental vigor he is still in his prime. 
The ardor of youth still characterizes his 
every movement and his life, as years ago 
when working at the cooper's bench in his 
father's shop. Personally he is honest, 
frank and candid, a man who appreciates 
and values a friend. He enjoys the high 
respect and warm admiration of the people 
of the city for which he did so much as its 
chief executive. 



THOMAS C. CLOUD. 

Thomas C. Cloud first saw the light 
April 7, 1823, in Clinton county, Ohio. He 
is the son of Joseph and Nancy Cloud, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, the former a son of 
Thomas Cloud. Joseph and Nancy Cloud, 
after their marriage, settled in Clinton 
county, Ohio. He was a stone dresser and 
mason and worked in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
when it gave but small promise of the popu- 
lous city of today. They moved from Ohio 
to Rush county. Indiana, about 1828, and 
were there for about two years, when Joseph 
died, leaving a widow and nine children: 
Betsie, deceased; Peggie, deceased; John F., 
deceased ; Sallie, deceased, was the wife of 
William Duckwall ; Prudie, now a resident 
of Ohio; Thomas; Pricilla, a resident of 
Frankfort. Indiana; Keziah, deceased, and 
Nancy, now a resident of Warren, this 
.state. 

After the death of her husband Nancy 
Cloud removed her family to Grant count}-, 
Indiana, about the year 1841, her son. 
Thomas, who now acted as head of the fam- 
ily, having previously gone there and helped 
to build a cabin. They were there about 
thirteen years when they sold their place for 
five hundred dollars and came to Wells 
county and bought the farm where Thomas 
now lives, paying the same amount for forty 
acres of land on which there had never been 
an ax. This made it necessary to rent land 
on the river front until they could get some 
cleared. During the first three years 
Thomas Cloud cleared thirty acres and at- 
tended to his crops besides. He finally 
cleared up ninety acres on the farm, which 
had grown to a hundred and twenty acres. 
February 20, 1850, Thomas Cloud was mar- 



ii8 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ried to Rebecca A. Jones, a daughter of 
Daniel and Susie Jones, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. Thomas and Rebecca A. Cloud are 
the parents of seven children, three of whom 
are yet living: Isaac, born January 20, 185 1, 
died July 8, 1874; Sarah D., born February 
19, 1852, married John E. Dillman, Decem- 
ber 30, 1 877 : they are now keeping house 
for the wife's father. John Dillman is the 
father of nine children, seven of whom are 
still living, Charlie, deceased, Homer, 
Josie, Mary, George, deceased, Almeda, 
Thomas, Vergie and Hazel. Susan, the 
third child of Thomas and Rebecca Cloud, 
was born June 13, 1854, is the wife of Eli 
Rea, of McNatts, Indiana, and they are the 
parents of one child, Nellie A. Nancy was 
born August 8, 1856, is the wife of Calvin 
Alspach, and the mother of seven children : 
Laura, Daniel, Amos, Charlie, Clinton, 
Lucy and George, deceased. Daniel W. was 
born May 15, 1858, and died October 7, 
1873, Delilah J. was born September 12, 
i860, and died May 25, 1864; Joseph L. 
was born March 23, 1864, died October 8, 
1888, his death being caused by a fall from 
a horse; he married Rosa Minnich and a 
daughter, Josie, was born after his death. 

The subject has worked at the carpen- 
ter's trade at times, but has devoted most 
of his life to farming, though he has not 
done active farm work for eleven years. 
He has also been a general stock raiser, 
rather preferring iiogs as a specialty. Re- 
becca A. Cloud, his wife, died January i, 
1900, and in the fall of 1902 his daughter, 
Sarah Dillman, moved into his home to 
care for her father in his old age. In the 
spring of 1900 Mr. Cloud suffered a stroke 
of paralysis which confined him to his bed 
for some time, but after a few weeks he was 



able to arise from his bed and is now able 
to walk about the yard of his home and 
other short distances. He and wife were 
consistent members of the Methodist Protes- 
tant church and he loves the Christian 
church. While he was in active life he al- 
ways manifested a lively interest in every- 
thing which had for its object the promotion 
or advancement of the class to which he be- 
longed. With this idea in view, he took 
an active part in the early Grange movement 
inaugurated by the farmers of the country. 
In politics Mr. Cloud has always been a 
Democrat. In character, as exemplified in 
his life, Thomas C. Cloud has set an ex- 
ample which is worthy of all commendation, 
and the success which has attended his la- 
bors and the estimation in which he is held 
in the closing years of a long and well spent 
life should prove an incentive to the youth 
of the land. Forced by the death of his 
father to assume the responsibilities of life 
at an earl}' age, he proved himself a strong 
reed, upon which his widowed mother with 
her large and fatherless family were able to 
lean. With filial care devoting himself to 
the general welfare of the family, he thus 
laid the foundation of his own fortunes and 
assured himself of a competency for his own 
old age. The success which has crowned 
the labors and life of Father Cloud proves 
that environment alone does not determine 
results ; that "Honor and fame from no con- 
ditions rise ; but in acting well your part, 
therein the honor lies." 



JAMES PERDUE. 

James Perdue was born in Delaware 
county, Indiana, February 28, 1834. His 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



119 



father was James Perdue, Sr., a native of 
North Carolina, and who was a son of John 
Perdue, also a native of the same state. 
James Perdue, Sr., married Mary Price, 
who was likewise a native of North Caro- 
lina, a daughter of Ellen (Lowery) Price, 
the wedding taking place in North Carolina. 
The births of both parents took place on the 
site of the battle of Guilford Court House, 
North Carolina, where the British were 
commanded by Lord Cornwallis and the 
Americans by General Greene. James Per- 
due, Sr., settled down to farming, but later 
came to Indiana, stopping a while in Wayne 
county, about 1830, and then came to Del- 
aw^are county where he died, in November. 
1833, before James, Jr., was born. While 
in Delaware county he farmed and taught 
school. James, Jr., has the instrument of 
writing, in his father's hand, that the latter 
made of the section of land set apart for the 
purpose of the school fund in the township 
where he settled. James, Sr., was the father 
of four children, of whom two are yet liv- 
ing : John, deceased ; Emily J. ; William, 
now residing in Warren. Indiana, and 
James. Mary, the widow of James 
Sr., married Francis McNairy in Delaware 
county and they later moved to Fayette 
county, Indiana, when James, Jr., was about 
ten years old, and the latter grew to man- 
hood in that county. He was educated in 
the public schools until he was about twenty 
years of age. The last term of school he 
attended was taught by a Presbyterian min- 
ister, who preached in the Ebenezer meet- 
ing house and taught a select term of 
school in an old log church. He had worked 
there during the summer, by the month, 
and boarded with the same man for whom 
he worked, attending the school during the 



following winter. He remained there the 
next summer, and in the fall returned to 
Delaware county and worked by the month 
for his stepfather, remaining with him that 
fall. He remained in Delaware county dur- 
ing the winter and worked until harvest the 
next summer. September 2, 1855, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was married to Mary 
Wall, a resident of Delaware county, Indi- 
ana, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of 
Christian and Hannah (Moss) Wall. The 
parents of Mary removed to Delaware 
county in an early day, settling on the land 
before there was any house on it and when 
it was all in woods. The father improvised 
a sort of shelter tent with brush, in which he 
kept his family until he could build a house. 
Christian Wall was the father of six 
children : Amanda, deceased ; Alexander, 
deceased : John, deceased ; Margaret, de- 
ceased; David, probably dead, went to 
California and not heard from, and 
Mary, who married James Perdue, was 
born May 8, 1830. .Vfter his marriage 
James Perdue and wife settled in Fay- 
ette county, Indiana, where they re- 
mained for two years, when they removed 
back to Delaware county and farmed in that 
county from 1857 until the former date in- 
clusive. They came to Jackson township, 
W^ells county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Per- 
due had six children, three sons and three 
daughters, all deceased but two. Francis 
M. has two children, Frederick and Carl P. ; 
Walter L. was born August 23, 1861, and 
died September 13, 1862: William R. was 
born December 17, 1862, and died August 
19, 1882; Mary L. was born March 8, 1865, 
and died December 23, 1873 : Olive, born 
November 7, 1866, died September 13, 
1867; Hettie, born November 15, 1870, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



married Darwin Lee, now a resident of 
Jackson township. Wells county, Indiana. 
They have two children, Jay and Burle. 
James Perdue and his wife are members of 
the Christian church at Perry Creek. He 
was an elder of the church in Delaware 
county for several years, also of the church 
at Dillman, Indiana, until it was disbanded 
several years ago. 

Mr. Perdue is a memlier of Lodge No. 
392, I. O. O. F., of Warren, Indiana, and 
has passed the chairs twice : he has been sec- 
retary and representative to the grand 
lodge, and was also deputy grand master 
under D. B. Shideler. Mr. Perdue was for- 
merly a Democrat, voting for Buchanan and 
Douglas, but since that time he has been a 
Republican. He has never missed an op- 
portunity to vote since he was old enough 
and has been active in politics. He served 
as assessor five times in his native township 
in Delaware county and was at one time a 
candidate for treasurer of Wells county, 
Indiana. 

James Perdue has lived in this state all 
his life, a period of more than two-thirds of 
a century. He has been a citizen of three 
counties of Indiana and has been a witness 
of and aided in their de\'elopment. While 
his life has not been essentially that of the 
original pioneers of the state, he has been 
conversant with most of the changes 
through which they passed, and the im- 
proved methods which have been adopted, 
both in work and manner of li\-ing. He has 
witnessed the de\-elopment of the state of 
his nativity from a semi-border common- 
wealth until it occupies today a position mid- 
way in the great chain of highly cultivated 
agricultural domains which constitute the 
integral divisions of our wonderful coun- 



try. He has acted well his part in life, seek- 
ing to improve his own environments and in 
the performance of his duties as a good cit- 
izen and neighbor has added to the general 
welfare of the communities in which he has 
lived. 



HENRY H. HUNSICKER. 

It is with marked satisfaction that the 
biographer adverts to the life of one who has 
attained success in any vocation requiring 
definiteness of purpose and determined ac- 
tion. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, 
consecutive endeavor or of sudden meteoric 
accomplishments, must abound in both lesson 
and incentive and prove a guide to young 
men whose fortunes and destinies are still 
matters for the future to determine. The 
subject of this sketch is distinctively one of 
the representative business men of Bluiifton. 
For a number of years he directed his efiforts 
toward the goal of success and by patient 
continuance in well doing succeeded at last 
in o\-ercoming the many obstacles by which 
his pathway was beset. 

Henr}' H. Hunsicker is a native of 
Seneca county, Ohio, where he was born on 
the 22cl day of January, i860. His father, 
G. C. Hunsicker, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and a descendant of one of the old 
families of that commonwealth. When a 
young man he went to Ohio, settling in the 
county of Seneca, where he met and married 
Catherine Heiser, who had come to this 
country some years previously from Ger- 
many. About the year 1866 Mr. Hunsicker 
moved his family to Allen county, Indiana, 
locating at Monroeville, in which town the 
subject of this sketch spent the years of his 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



early youth. Henry H. Hunsicker was a 
lad ijf si.x when his parents became resi- 
dents of the Hoosier state. After acquiring 
a fair education in the public schools, he 
began working in a factory at Monroeville 
and from the time of securing employment 
until reaching the age of eighteen all of his 
wages were turned over to his parents. Dur- 
ing the three years preceding his majority 
he retained half of his earnings for his own' 
use, the other half being generously con- 
tributed to the support of the family, the 
father's circumstances being such as to make 
this addition to the general fund very accept- 
able. 

When twenty-one Mr. Hunsicker went to 
St. Louis, Missouri, where he soon found 
employment at good wages in a heading 
factory and later worked as a wood turner. 
In the fall of 1882 he came to Bluffton, In- 
diana, and accepted a position with a wood- 
working firm, continuing as head sawyer 
until the spring of 1885. Meantime, July 
I, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Susanna Johnston, daughter of John and 
Catherine ( Porter) Johnston, who were 
among the early settlers of Wells county. 
Mr. Johnston was one of the leading farm- 
ers of Harrison township for a number of 
years, and later became a prominent resident 
of Bluffton. Mrs. Hunsicker was born in 
the above township in February, 1863, and 
is one of five children, the names of the 
other livhig members of the family being 
Maggie, now Mrs. John Crosbie, and J. 
R. Johnston, the present sherifY of Wells 
county. 

In 1885 Mr. Hunsicker purchased drays 
and engaged in the transfer business, which 
he followed about two years. Disposing of 
his outfit, he worked for a short time in the 



factory where he had forinerl}^ been em- 
ployed. In 1887 he embarked in the grocery 
business in partnership with B. Bowman 
for a short time, afterward with A. Watson 
for about a year, then a few months with 
John Burgan, and for twelve years by him- 
self. August 6, 1901, Mr. Hunsicker sold 
his grocery business and purchased the over- 
all factory of which he has since been pro- 
prietor. Mr. Hunsicker's present enterprise 
has grown into one of the most important 
and successful manufacturing concerns in 
the city of Bluffton. Under his manage- 
ment its capacity has been greatly enlarged 
to meet the demands of the trade, and upon 
an average of from twenty-eight to thirty- 
five hands are given emplo}'ment every work- 
ing day of the year. The weekly pay roll 
amounts to about one hundred and sixty dol- 
lars, exclusive of the salary of the two sales- 
men who represent the factory in the states 
of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. 
The output is about two hundred and fifty 
dozen every week, which finds ready sale, 
and such is the demand for these articles 
that it will soon become necessary to in- 
crease the productive capacity of the fac- 
tory and add to the force of operators. 
What success has come to Mr. Hunsicker, 
and it is by no means small, has been the re- 
sult of his own efforts, supplemented by a 
judgment and business capacity of a very 
high order. He inherited no wealth and 
began the struggle of life with no financial 
aid and little assistance from influential 
friends. The only heritage that came to him 
was a .sound constitution, an active mind, 
a thorough brand of American pluck and 
grit, and an intelligent comprehension of 
the way in which to put these to the best 
uses. With an inborn industrv and a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



natural capacity for hard work, he has al- 
ways made the most of his opportunities, 
at the same time laid well his plans for the 
future, and ever labored with something 
better in view. Forseeing what should be 
done and doing it in the right time, together 
with the ability to mould circumstances to 
suit his purposes, have been the secrets of 
the success which has marked Mr. Hunsick- 
er's career since he became head of the flour- 
ishing enterprise which he now operates. 

As a citizen he stands deservedly high in 
public esteem, being interested in the prog- 
ress of his adopted city, and doing all within 
his power to promote its material, social and 
moral welfare. Like all progressive men, 
he takes a lively interest in politics, but has 
never been known as an active partisan or 
aspirant for public position. He votes the 
Democratic ticket in state and national af- 
fairs, but in matters purely local pays little 
attention to the dictates of party leaders. 
Mr. Hunsicker is an enthusiastic Odd Fel- 
low, having passed all the chairs in the subor- 
dinate lodge and encampment, besides be- 
longing to the Pythian brotherhood and a 
charter member of the Order of Red Men. 
Mrs. Hunsicker is a leading worker in the 
Rathbone Sisters, also the Rebekah degree, 
I. O. O. F., which she has represented in 
the grand lodge, and holds a prominent po- 
sition in the Woman's Relief Corps of Bluff- 
ton. Both are well known in society circles 
and are among the city's most intelligent 
and estimable people. 



THE SWAIM BROTHERS. 

So closely interwoven were the lives of 
David H. and William Thomas Toy Swaim 



that the history of one is practically the his- 
tory of both. Their relations during child- 
hood and youth, their school life and later 
their associations in a business way made 
their mutual interests complete. They are 
natives of Wells county, Indiana, born in 
the town of Ossian, David H, on the 17th 
of September, 1858, and William T. T. on 
the 1st day of April, 1861. They were 
reared to young manhood in the above vil- 
lage and only left there when ready to em- 
bark in business pursuits, meanwhile attend- 
ing the public schools, in which they re- 
ceived an intellectual discipline of no incon- 
siderable importance. Their parents were 
William and Hannah (Toy) Swaim, for 
many years well known and highly respect- 
ed residents of the community in which they 
lived. The father enlisted in an Indiana 
regiment at the breaking out of the late 
Civil war and received at the battle of 
Champion Hill, Mississippi, a mortal wound 
which resulted in his death on the 17th of 
June, 1863. His widow survived him a 
number of years, departing this life Febru- 
ary 28, 1895. After the father's death the 
mother, desirous of procuring for her chil- 
dren the best educational advantages ob- 
tainable, moved from the farm to Ossian, 
where in due time the brothers entered upon 
their school work. They continued their 
studies there until completing the prescribed 
course in 1879, in the spring of which year 
David H. became assistant to Superintend- 
ent P. A. Allen, in a select school which the 
two jointly conducted the year following. 
In 1880 the brothers entered Fort Wayne 
College, but before the end of the first year 
David withdrew in order to accept the posi- 
tion of assistant in a school at Ossian, 
Thomas remaining until he was graduated 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



123 



in the latter part of the year following. Sub- 
sequently, 188 1 -2, David served as superin- 
tendent of the Ossian schools and during 
that time Thomas was employed as assistant 
in the schools of Bluffton, both earning en- 
viable reputations as educators. Having 
decided upon the legal profession as their 
life work, they entered, in the fall of 1882, 
the law department of Michigan University 
at Ann Arbor, where they continued their 
studies until completing the full course, 
both graduating two years later with the 
degree of B. L. In September, 1884, they 
moved with their mother to Blufifton and, 
forming a partnership under the name of 
Swaim & Swaim, began the practice of their 
profession under most favorable auspices. 
They soon took high rank with the leading 
members of the Blufifton bar, built up a 
large and lucrative business in the courts of 
Wells and neighboring counties and con- 
tinued the practice until May, 1888, when 
they withdrew from the law and, in partner- 
ship with Asbury Duglay, purchased the 
Blufifton Chronicle. The Swaim brothers 
embarked upon the sea of journalism with a 
full appreciation of the difificulties which it 
entailed, coupled with a well defined pur- 
pose of making the enterprise a success as 
far as success under the circumstances could 
be attained. Briefly stated, the history of 
the paper of which the Swaim brothers be- 
came managers in the above year is as fol- 
lows : In 1853 ^^^^ People's Press, a Repub- 
lican organ, was established in Blufifton, by 
John Wilson and Michael Karnes, who em- 
ployed as editor a Mr. Knox, a newspaper 
man of considerable experience and a fair 
writer. Subsequently James Branigan and 
James Gorrell served as editors and under 
their management the paper continued to 



make its periodical appearance until 1857, 
when the plant was purchased by T. N. 
Kellogg and a Mr. Bixler, Nelson Kellogg 
taking charge of the editorial work. Messrs. 
Kellogg and Bixler ran the paper with fair 
success until 1861, when it passed into the 
hands of W. J. Bright, who changed the 
name to the Wells County Union, under 
which title it was issued until the stringent 
financial condition of the times caused its 
temporary suspension. After a time the 
enterprise was revived by Cephas Hogg, 
who, as editor and proprietor, labored 
against many obstacles until succeeded by 
J. H. Smith, under whose management the 
name of the paper was changed in 1866 to 
the Wells County Standard, the editorial 
department the meanwhile being in charge 
of James Sewell. Subsequently A. Callon 
and J. Sewell became owners and in 1S69 
the title was a third time changed, the name 
of Blufifton Chronicle being substituted and 
S. Davenport becoming editor. Under the 
latter firm the Chronicle was issued un- 
til 1873, when the publication again sus- 
pended, but after a short period J. W. Ruck- 
man took charge of the plant and in due 
time established it upon a self-supporting 
basis. He managed the enterprise quite 
successfully until 1877, when he sold out to 
J. F. Pearson, who in turn disposed of the 
ofifice to C. A. Arnold, under whose control 
the paper continued to grow in influence 
and public favor until 1878. In that year 
George Arnold & Son became proprietors 
and during their ownership the paper was 
greatly improved in its editorial and 
mechanical makeup. Its circulation large- 
ly increased, the advertising patronage was 
quite liberal and as a political organ it was 
influential in shaping the policy of the Re- 



124 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



piil)lican party in the county and contributed 
much to the success of the ticket in local af- 
fairs. The Messrs. Arnold in 1888 dis- 
posed of the Chronicle to Swaim Brothers & 
Duglay, as already stated, and under the 
management of the latter firm the paper 
took on new life and more than at any other 
period of its history became a power for 
good in the community. In August, 1891, 
Mr. Duglay died, after which event the 
Swaims purchased his interest in the plant 
and liecame sole proprietors. William T. 
T. Swaim died October 6, 1895, and after 
his death David became sole owner and 
manager of the enterprise. Since assuming 
sole control he has greatly enlarged the pa- 
per, changing it from a nine-column folio 
to a seven-column quarto, besides purchas- 
ing new engines and presses and supplying 
the office with all the latest and most ap- 
proved appliances used in the "art preserva- 
tive." The Chronicle is a model of typo- 
graphic art and within the last ten years its 
circulation and advertising patronage have 
so increased that it is now one of the best 
paying newspaper properties in northern 
Indiana. In its literary makeup it is de- 
signed to vibrate with the public pulse and 
be a reflex of the current thought of the 
day; politically it is staunchly Republican 
and. being recognized as the official organ of 
the party in Wells county, its influence in 
directing and controlling thought relative 
to leading issues has brought it prominently 
to the notice of the party throughout the 
state. As editorial writer Mr. Swaim is 
clear, forceful, elegant, at times trenchant, 
and in discussing the great questions of the 
day is a formidable but courteous antagon- 
ist. As a family newspaper the Chronicle 
enjoys a large measure of popularity and its 



periodical \isits are eagerly looked for- 
ward to by its many patrons in Wells county 
and elsewhere. On all matters of public 
policy it occupies no neutral ground, but 
fearlessly advocates honest convictions re- 
gardless of consequences. Its moral tone 
is of a high standard and while it is a me- 
dium through which the production of local 
writers as well as other correspondence is 
given publicity, nothing objectionable is 
permitted to appear in its columns. It is 
designed to answer the purpose of an edu- 
cational factor and such it has indeed be- 
come, as its contents, both political and gen- 
eral, tend to improve the mind and cultivate 
the taste rather than to appeal to passion 
and prejudice as is the manner of too many 
local sheets. Mr. Swaim has displayed 
commendable enterprise in the field of 
journalism, not only by improving the 
Chronicle and bringing it up to its present 
standard of excellence, but by giving to the 
public an additional paper. The Evening 
News, a bright daily, the first number of 
which made its appearance in 1893. Since 
that time the News has been regularly is- 
sued from the Chronicle office and that it is 
appreciated by the public is attested by the 
large and constantly increasing patronage 
which has marked its history from the first 
number to the present time. David H. 
Swaim is a public spirited man in all the 
term implies and personally as well as 
through the medium of the press is doing 
much to foster the industrial development 
and intellectual growth of the city and coun- 
ty besides exercising a potent influence in 
elevating the moral sentiment of the com- 
munity. He is a wide awake, broad minded 
man of the day, deeply interested in what- 
ever concerns the general welfare and ready 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



125 



at all times to lend his influence and mater- 
ial aid to any movement with this object in 
\ie\v. 

David H. Swaim was married Septem- 
ber 15, 1885, to Miss E. Ala)' Gorrell, 
daughter of James and Mary Ann Gorrell, 
of this county. Airs. Swaim was born 
April 14, 1 86 1, graduated from the Ossian 
schools in 1880, and later became a teacher 
in the schools of Bluffton, where she labored 
successfully until the year of her marriage. 
She is a devoted member of the First Meth- 
odist Episcopal church of Bluffton and for 
a number of years has been a teacher in the 
Sunday school. On the 8th of June, 1890, 
David H. Swaim was appointed postmaster 
of Bluffton and discharged the duties of the 
position with his accustomed energy and 
business methods for a period of three years 
and two months, proving a capable and 
courteous oflicial and fully meeting the high 
expectation of his friends and the public 
generally. He also subscribes to the Meth- 
odist creed, having united with the church 
while prosecuting his legal studies at Ann 
Arbor. Mr. and Mrs. Swaim are the par- 
ents of two children, Helen, born Novem- 
ber 19, 1888, and Roger Gorrell, born 
March 6, 1897. 



JOHN MINNICH. 



John Minnich, who was born November 
1 1. 1835, in Clark county, Ohio, is a son of 
Jac(jb Minnich, born July 24, 18 14, in Ohio, 
Jacol) being born after his father's death. 
The family was originally from the state of 
Pennsyhania. Jacob is yet living, at the 
age of eighty-eight years, and went through 



a siege of smallpox this last spring. The 
first wife of Jacob Minnich was Christiana 
Ebersole, a native of Ohio, but whose par- 
ents came from Virginia. Jacob married 
his first wife in Ohio, settled there and 
commenced farming, later remo\'ed his 
family to Jackson township, Wells county, 
Indiana, settling in September, 1841, on 
the farm where he now lives. His wife, 
Christiana, died in February, 1855, leaving 
six children, as follows : John ; Phoeba, the 
wife of Peter Wright, a resident of Sum- 
mitville, Indiana; Sarah, deceased; Mary, 
the wife of Madison Irving, a resident of 
Warren, Indiana ; Peter, a resident of War- 
ren, Indiana ; Michael lives on the old home 
farm. Jacob Minnich moved from Clark 
county, Ohio, by wagon, it taking eight 
days to make the trip of about one hundred 
and ten miles. He had made a trip to Indi- 
ana and built a log cabin on his land before 
removing his family, though it had neither 
fire place nor door when he returned to it. 
Soon after arriving he was taken sick and 
was not out of the house until February of 
the next year. The subject was then only 
six years old. But luckily James Mclntyre 
had come with them and they managed to 
keep "soul and body together." His horses 
were out all winter without any kind of 
shelter save the brush and timber of the 
woods. They had at the time two head of 
horses, the same number of cattle and two 
dogs. At night the dogs were kept under 
the house through fear of the wolves, which 
were very plentiful in the country at that 
time. When the family removed from 
Ohio, they brought with them two barrels 
of flour, \vhich furnished all the bread they 
had until they had cleared the ground, 
planted and raised a crop of corn, and after- 



126 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



wards of wheat. In the spring the father 
was able to work again, and they managed 
to get out sixty acres of a corn crop. They 
w-ere allowed to plant a piece of land on Mr. 
Batson's place, in return for the labor of 
burning the brush off it, raised corn enough 
the first year for their own use and had 
some to spare. They kept adding a little to 
the amount cleared until finally the whole 
farm was cleared up. Their meat they ob- 
tained from the forest : the usual manner of 
securing it was to secretly approach the deer 
along the river in a canoe at night, during 
the summer time, having the light in the 
canoe blinded by a board. Under such cir- 
cumstances the deer would stand and stare 
at the boat, their shining eyes making an 
easy mark for the hunter's rifle. The early 
settlers could usually also get plenty of good 
honey from wild bees in the fall of the year. 
John went to school in a log cabin, which 
had a stick chimney about six feet W'ide, 
with greased paper for window lights. He 
attended his last term of school when he 
was twenty-one years of age. The most of 
the schools which he attended were sub- 
scription schools, supplemented later by a 
few terms in the public school, which had 
then become better established. John re- 
mained at home with his father until he was 
twenty-two years of age, when, on Novem- 
ber 6, 1857, he was married to Mary M. 
Huffman. She was born in Ohio TNIarch 6, 
1838. and is a daughter of John Huffman, a 
native of Ohio, and Susan (Myers) Huff- 
man. They were married in Ohio and came 
to Indiana in the fall of 1846. settled in 
Huntington county and remained there until 
John's death. Susan is yet living at the 
home of John Minnich at the age of eighty- 
six years. John Huffman was the father of 



seven children, all of whom are yet living: 
Mary M. married John Minnich; Louis .s 
a resident of Mt. Zion, Indiana; George H. 
is ex-sheriff of Wells county, Indiana; 
Rachel is the wife of Robert Campbell, a 
farmer of Liberty township: Martha is the 
wife of Sylvester Gephart; Elijah is now a 
resident of Mt. Zion, Indiana, and Jacob 
resides on the old home place in Hunting- 
ton county, Indiana. After their marriage 
John Minnich and his wife lived for two 
years in a house on his father's farm. In 
March, i860, they moved onto the place 
where he now lives, having purchased two 
or three years previously the eighty acres 
which constituted the farm. On March 8 
he began the clearing of his land and the 
first year he got out seven acres of a crop, 
breaking up the land with a borrowed yoke 
of oxen, feeding them on potatoes while 
doing the work; he did some plowing for 
the owner for the use of the animals. 

During their first years on this farm 
Mrs. Minnich spun her own flax and wove 
the cloth for the use of the family. She did 
not purchase a dress from a store for six 
years. Steadily they toiled on, clearing and 
improving the farm ' little by little. Mr. 
Minnich had to haul wheat to the market 
in Huntington, which was more than 
twenty miles away, and over the roughest 
and muddiest roads conceivable, and after 
getting it there forty cents a bushel was the 
selling price. About twenty-two bushels of 
wheat was the limit for a load for a good 
team to haul to Huntington in those days. 
Huntington and Wells counties had no rail- 
roads at that time and the wheat and other 
products as well were transported to the 
general market at Toledo, Ohio, by way of 
the Wabash canal, which passed through 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



127 



Huntington. The first salt that was brought 
into the communit)' cost thirteen dollars per 
barrel. It took three days to go to mill, as 
they had to go to Camden, in Jay county, 
where they had steam power. On one oc- 
casion Samuel Batson and John Minnich 
started to the mill at noon on Sunday and 
did not get back home until Thursday noon 
following. Mr. Minnich now has one hun- 
dred and fifty-eight acres of fine land, with 
eleven producing oil wells, which brought 
him a profit of about sixty dollars per 
month during the last year. He is a lover 
of farm stock, preferring Poland China hogs 
and shorthorn cattle. He has not farmed 
any for the last seven years, having been 
laid up with rheumatism. He has been 
gardening for about eighteen or nineteen 
years, marketing his produce at Montpelier, 
Indiana, where Perman, Johnson & Com- 
pany get all his stock. He has devoted the 
most of his life to farming. During the war 
he worked at the carpenter's trade and made 
money enough to pay for an additional 
eighty acres of land. He also ran a black- 
smith shop for twenty years, but does not 
now try to do work of that kind. He is the 
father of four children : Louis, born Novem- 
ber 6, 1864, married Mamie J. Colbert, lives 
on his father's farm and has one son, Park 
F. ; Jacob, born May 5, 187 1, married Jennie 
E. Anderson, lives in Liberty township and 
has two children, Edna M. and Lillian C. ; 
Oliver was born April 11, 1879, married 
Maud Shadles and now resides in Chester 
township. Wells county, Indiana; they have 
one child. Don W. ; an infant son died un- 
named. They also reared and provided for 
three other children not their own. 

Mr. Minnich and wife are members of 
the German Baptist church and are active 



Christian workers. After the oil interest 
had been developed on his farm, he divided 
the income received in royalty, giving one- 
half of it in equal amounts to his children. 
In politics, Mr. Minnich was formerly a Re- 
publican, but is now a Democrat. He be- 
lieves, however, in voting for principle. 
John Minnich and his wife are essentially 
Indiana pioneers. Coming to the state with 
their parents when the section in which they 
settled was an almost unbroken wilderness, 
in which, at night, the howling of the preda- 
tory wolf was a frequent and familiar 
sound : when the roaming droves of deer in 
the forests furnished the few settlers with 
meat for their families and the hardy settler, 
with unerring eye, would course • the wild 
honey bee to his native hive in the cavity of 
some forest tree. Growing to manhood and 
womanhood amid all these early scenes, they 
were familiar with all the customs and 
modes of living in those pioneer days. After 
their marriage they moved onto land in the 
woods and were subject to all the vicissi- 
tudes and hardships which attended the 
earliest settlers in the country. Mrs. Min- 
nich was familiar with the use of the flax 
brake, the spinning wheel and the 'reel, and 
hand cards, for rolling the wool before spin- 
ning, which were implements of daily house- 
hold use in the family for several years. 
Mr. Minnich made the old fashioned spin- 
ning wheel and the reel which his wife had 
spun the wool on and they have these old 
relics in their home yet. 

But all this is changed ; they have lived 
to see the country, which at that time had 
no roads, except bridle paths and tracks cut 
through the timber, crossed arid recrossed 
by railroads and macadamized highways 
traversing a highly improved and finely cul- 



[28 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tivated country in every direction. Where 
there were towns at tliat time, there are now 
cities, and towns and villages now dot the 
country where there were forests and 
swamps. The log cabin, with its huge 
chimney and greased-paper windows, has 
given way to fine brick buildings dedicated 
to learning, and the spinning wheel, with 
the reel, etc., have been relegated to the at- 
tics of the palatial homes that have taken 
the place of the cabins on the farms and are 
now spoken of as antique. 

The actors in these scenes have also 
changed; instead of the buoyancy and in- 
spiration of youth with which they were 
then filled, their heads are now silvered by 
age and their forms are bent with the in- 
firmity of years. But they have done well 
their part in life, their labors have been 
blessed with a competency, and, surrounded 
by loving children and friends, and esteem- 
ed by all who know them, they confidently 
await the inevitable change. 

Mr. and Mrs. Minnich have in their 
possession an old parchment sheepskin deed, 
bearing the signature of President Martin 
Van Buren and dated August 20, 1838, one 
year after the great panic of 1837. 



AARON FLEMING. 

The gentleman whose name appears 
above is one of the brave, indomitable spirits 
to whom the present generation is indebted 
for the transformation of the wilderness of 
Indiana to a domain of civilization and en- 
lightenment. Endowed by nature with 
strong characteristics that have made him 
efificient in the mission he was to fulfill, he 
has done much to confer the blessings of 



progress upon this part of the state and is 
today one of the oldest living settlers in the 
county of \\'ells. Aaron Fleming is a native 
of JeiTerson county, Ohio, where his birth 
occurred on the 4th day of July, 18 17. His 
father, Absalom Fleming, was born in 
Maryland and the mother, whose maiden 
name was Sarah Wright, was a native of 
Virginia. These parents moved in an early 
day to Jefferson county, Ohio, where they 
became acquainted and married and some 
time thereafter they changed their residence 
to the county of Wayne. Absalom Flem- 
ing followed tilling the soil for a livelihood, 
but being poor in this world's goods was 
obliged to rear his family on rented land. As 
soon as the subject was old enough to be of 
practical service he was obliged to assist his 
father and as the greater part of his early 
life was spent in a comparatively new coun- 
try, he enjoyed no educational advantages 
worthy of mention before learning to read 
and write. Actuated by a sense of duty 
most commendable, he labored diligently for 
his parents and otherwise looked after their 
interests until reaching an age when young 
men are expected to sever home ties and 
branch out in the world for themselves. On 
attaining his majority he engaged with a 
man who moved to Indiana and the month 
of October, 1838, witnessed his arrival in 
the new and sparsely settled county of Wells. 
Pleased with the country, he soon purchased 
one hundred acres of land in Rock Creek 
township and paid for the same in due time 
out of his wages of one hundred dollars per 
year, which he saved with most rigid econ- 
omy. In order to meet the payments as they 
became due he was obliged to deny himself 
many privileges peculiarly dear to young 
men, doing without suitable raiment and 




AARON FLEMING. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



[29 



withdrawing himself entirely from the so- 
cial gatherings which in those days af- 
forded sucii an agreeable break in the dull 
monotony of pioneer life. After spending 
some time in Wells county he returned to 
Ohio, where better wages for farm labor 
could be obtained. He spent one year in his 
native county, during which time he was 
united in marriage to Miss Sarah Bell Kirk- 
patrick and the following year moved to his 
new iiome, erected a rude log cabin and ad- 
dressed himself to the task of clearing and 
developing a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming 
set up their first domestic establishment in a 
very modest w-ay. Their house, which con- 
sisted of a single room, was sparsely fur- 
nished with articles of his own manufacture, 
including a few roughly-made chairs, a bed- 
stead of the most primitive pattern and a 
box which answered the purpose of a table. 
The first year Mr. Fleming cleared three 
acres of ground, which were planted in 
corn, potatoes and other vegetables, and 
while the little crop matured he continued 
his labors in the woods early and late until 
by the following spring there was a goodly 
area in readiness for tillage. After living 
on this place for a period of nine years and 
clearing with his own hands over fifty acres 
of ground, he sold the farm for twelve 
hundred dollars and purchased one hundred 
and fifty-one acres in the township of Lan- 
caster. Subsequently he added to the latter 
at intervals until he became one of the larg- 
est land owners in that part of the countv, 
his real estate at this time amounting to four 
hundred and seventy-seven acres, which with 
other property in his possession represents 
a fortune considerably in excess of thirty 
thousand dollars. 

Mr. Fleming made considerable money | 



by pasturing and feeding live stock, es- 
pecially cattle, in which business his success 
w^as most gratifying. As a farmer he early 
took rank among the most enterprising and 
progressive agriculturists of the county and 
in his various business transactions he was 
no less fortunate. He mounted rapidly the 
ladder of success, managed with masterly 
skill ever)- undertaking in which he engaged 
and from the small beginning alluded to has 
advanced step by step until he is n(jw the 
possessor of a competence of much greater 
magnitude than the majority of farmers at- 
tain. Clear perception, correct judgment, 
comprehensive thought and stainless honor 
have ever characterized his career and he 
stands today not only at the head of his voca- 
tion, but as a citizen ranks with the repre- 
sentative men of his adopted county. Air. 
Fleming possesses in a marked degree those 
traits and abilities which make men masters 
of their fate. Great industry and consecu- 
tive effort account largely for the success 
which has attended him, while his word has 
always been held as sacred as a written obli- 
gation. He has witnessed the remarkable 
growth knd development of Wells county 
along all lines of industrial activity and to 
the best of his ability he has contributed of 
brawn and brain to bring about the results 
that now exist. During a residence here 
covering a period of sixty-four years his 
character has ever been above reproach and 
his conduct in every relation of life has been 
that of the upright man and honorable citi- 
zen. No man in the county is better known 
and few occupy as conspicuous a place in the 
confidence and esteem of the people. In 
politics he has voted with the Republican 
party ever since its organization, but has 
never taken a very active part in public af- 



I30 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



fairs, preferring the plain, simple life of 
private citizenship to any official honors 
within the power of the people to bestow. 
His religious belief is embodied in the Pres- 
byterian creed and for a great many years 
he has been a faithful and earnest member of 
that communion. Originally he and wife 
belonged to the Pleasant Ridge church in 
Jefiferson township, but later their member- 
ship was transferred to the Murray congre- 
gation in which he held the ofBce of ruling 
elder and with which they are now identi- 
fied. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have been blessed 
with five children, namely: Mary J., wife 
of Albert Wilson; Sarah A., widow of the 
late Jere Sowl, of this county; Lydia Bell, 
who married James Wilson, of Lancaster 
township; Drusilla, now Mrs. Donaldson 
Wilson, and Martha Jeanette, widow of 
David Truesdale Wason. 



JAMES C. HATFIELD. 

In this utilitarian age, when there is so 
little just discrimination between decisive 
merit and shallow pretenses, when selfish as- 
surance is often better appreciated than 
modest, unpretending worth, it is a pleasure 
to contemplate the character and career of 
such a man as the subject of this review, a 
man who, though unassuming, has not been 
underestimated by the people and who in re- 
turn for their mark of favor has taught them 
how valuable may be those public services 
that must be sought for and are never ob- 
trusively displayed, as it were, on the po- 
litical auction block. Though a man with- 
out pretense, he possesses that magnetic 
force that silently attracts, those mental and 



moral qualities and personal characteristics 
that win strong friendships and that tact 
that make men and events subserve his just 
purpose. 

James Clement Hatfield is a scion of one 
of the oldest and most worthy pioneer fam- 
ilies of Wells county, his ancestors having 
been among the sturdy indomitable spirits 
that led the van of civilization into this sec- 
tion of the Hoosier state. Tracing the Hat- 
field genealogy, it is learned that the family 
originated in England, one of the first an- 
cestors of which there remains an authentic 
record being one John Hatfield, who in an 
early day engaged in the East India serv- 
ice and amassed an immense fortune by 
commerce and banking. He was twice mar- 
ried, the first wife, whose maiden name was 
Dorotha O'Neal, bearing him children as 
follows : Adam, Andrew, John and Sarah, 
all of whom came to America and spent the 
greater portion of their lives in this coun- 
try. The second wife of John Hatfield, 
Elizabeth Shippore, a native of England, 
died without issue. Mr. Hatfield died 
in India, leaving as was supposed a very 
large and valuable estate to his relations, 
but for some reason it was not properly ad- 
ministered on, the effect being that his law- 
ful heirs never obtained the possession due 
them. 

Adam Hatfield, founder of the Ameri- 
can branch of the family, came to this coun- 
try prior to the struggle for independence 
and settled in Westmoreland county, Penn- 
sylvania. About the year 1772 he was 
united in marriage with Margaret Dilwo'rth, 
who bore him the following sons and daugh- 
ters: Elizabeth, John, Mary, Benjamin, 
Sarah, Margaret, Robert, Nancy, Joseph 
and Adam. In 1795 Adam Hatfield, with 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



131 



his large family, migrated to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, then a mere frontier trading post, and 
departed this life there the following year. 
The family then returned to Beaver county, 
Pennsylvania, where they made their home 
until 18 1 5, at which time Mrs. Hatfield and 
her sons, Robert, Adam and Joseph, re- 
moved to Wayne county, Ohio, settling near 
the town of Wooster. 

Adam Hatfield, Jr., married Miss 
Martha Kirkpatrick, a lady of great force of 
character, well fitted by nature and early 
training to bear the hard lot of pioneer life, 
and about the year 1839 moved to Wells 
county, Indiana, locating in Jefferson town- 
ship three miles north of the present site of 
Murray on a tract of four hundred and 
eighty acres of land which he had previously 
entered. Here he erected his log cabin, 
made a small clearing and entered upon that 
course of life which subsequently made him 
one of the leading farmers and prominent 
citizens of this part of the state. Adam 
Hatfield was a man of excellent parts and 
early took an active interest in public af- 
fairs, having been one of the first officials 
in Jefferson township. Although of limited 
education as far as a knowledge of books 
was concerned, he possessed a clear mind, 
quick perception, correct judgment, and was 
a leader of thought and moulder of opinion 
in his community. He also exerted a whole- 
some influence as a director of moral and 
religious sentiment among his neighbors 
and politically early took a decided stand as 
a Whig against the nefarious institution of 
human slavery. A Presbyterian in religion, 
he and his good wife may properly be 
termed the forerunners of that faith in the 
county of Wells. In their little cabin home 
were held the first religious services ever 



conducted in this part of the state, Rev. Isaac 
A. Ogden, of the Miami (Ohio) presbytery, 
officiating. The outgrowth of these services 
was a regularly organized church, the first 
in the county, of which Rev. John H. Russ 
was chosen pastor. In 1840 occurred the 
death of Mrs. Adam Hatfield and her re- 
mains were laid to rest in the old Miller 
burying ground. Subsequently the body 
was removed to the cemetery at Murray 
where now it lies awaiting the resurrection 
of the just. Adam Hatfield afterwards 
entered into the marriage relation with Mrs. 
Elizabeth Steward, who remained his faith- 
ful companion and helpmeet until his death, 
which occurred in 1848 at the age of fifty- 
five years. 

Hiram Hatfield, son of Adam and 
Martha (Kirkpatrick) Hatfield, was born 
in Wayne county, Ohio, but spent his child- 
hood and youth amid the pioneer scenes of 
Wells county. Indiana. Owing to the lack 
of educational facilities his advantages in 
the way of intellectual development were 
exceedingly limited, being confined to a 
small private school taught by Miss Mar- 
garet Hatfield in a little log cabin that for- 
merly stood on the Hatfield homestead. It 
is said that this lady received for her serv- 
ices the munificent sum of seventy-five cents 
per week and boarded among the patrons of 
the school, spending a week with each fam- 
ily in succession until the end of the term. 
Notwithstanding these unfavorable circum- 
stances Mr. Hatfield made the most of his 
opportunities and by much reading and close 
observation in after years became not only 
a good practical scholar, but a remarkably 
well informed man on many important sub- 
jects. In 1850 he chose a companion in the 
person of Miss Martha A. Egbert, who 



132 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



entered into rest after two years of happy 
wedded life. Subsequently Mr. Hatfield 
married Miss Catherine K. Donaldson, 
daughter of Robert and Ann Donaldson, a 
union blessed with five children: Anna M., 
Victor M., James C, of this review, Jennie 
and Robert A. 

In 1852 Mr. Hatfield disposed of his 
farm and engaged in the mercantile business 
at Murray, where he enjoyed a large and 
lucrative trade for sixteen years. In 1867 
he purchased a stock of goods at Ossian 
where he carried on a very successful busi- 
ness, the magnitude of which necessitated 
the erection of the large two-story brick 
structure which was completed and occupied 
in the year 1880. From that time to the 
great panic in 1893 h^s trade constantly in- 
creased until his establishment easily became 
the leading house of the kind in the county. 
He was the embodiment of Ii(.)nor in all of 
his dealings and his name shines with pe- 
culiar luster as one of the most successful 
as well as one of the kindest and most oblig- 
ing merchants that ever carried on business 
in this section of the state. He easily met 
all of his obligations in ordinary times, but 
when the cyclone of disaster swept over the 
country in 1893 it became impossible for 
him to realize on his securities and out- 
standing accounts, consequently he, with 
hundreds of others, was engulfed in the tide. 
To such a man as he this proved a very 
heavy blow, but no blame has ever attached 
to his good name nor was the rectitude of 
his intentions for a moment criticised by 
those familiar with the peculiar conditions 
(_)f the business situation at that time. Ex- 
tremely sensitive, the wreck of the splendid 
fortune representing the labors and self-de- 
nials of a life time prostrated him physically 



as well as financially. After a somewhat 
protracted illness he gently passed into the 
great unknown, departing this life on the 
30th day of November, 1893, honored and 
respected by all who knew^ him. In addi- 
tion to his business career Mr. Hatfield had 
a military record, replete with duty faith- 
fully performed during the most momentous 
crisis in our national history. In 186 1 he 
responded to the President's call for volun- 
teers to defend the Union, joining the 
Twelfth Indiana Infantry, with which he 
served until Imnorably discharged at the ex- 
piration of his period of enlistment. When 
he entered the army it was to the great 
sacrifice of his business interests, but to one 
of his loyalty and true patriotic fervor the 
closing of his store for a few years and the 
consequent loss of custom was as nothing 
compared with the danger which at that 
time threatened the perpetuity of America's 
beloved institutions. Religiously he was a 
lifelong member of the Presbyterian church 
and for many years served the local con- 
gregation to wdiich he belonged as ruling 
elder. Soundly orthodox in his belief, he 
gave liberally of his means for the support 
of the gospel at home and abroad and also 
championed every cause that had for its ob- 
ject the elevation of man to a higher stand- 
ard of moral and Christian living and honor- 
able citizenship. In the language of an- 
other, "He left the heritage of a good name 
to his descendants, a name untarnished by 
even a suspicion of bad intent or wrong 
doing, a name that will long live throughout 
Wells county without a peer for unvarying 
integrity and stability of character." Mrs. 
Hatfield survives her husband and is still 
living in the town of Ossian. 

James Clement Hatfield, the direct sub- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



1 33 



ject of tills sketch, is a nati\e of Wells 
count}-, Indiana, born in the village of Mur- 
ray on the 31st day of Aligust, 1861. Much 
of character and success in life depends 
upon the right kind of parentage, in which 
respect the subject was peculiarly blessed. 
In early childhood there were implanted in 
his mind and heart principles of rectitude 
and honor which within the coin^se of years 
crx'stallized into C(jrrect moral fiber, grow- 
ing with his growth and developing into 
well defined purposes as he advanced to- 
wards manhood's estate. At the proper age 
he entered the public schools of his native 
town and by close application made substan- 
tial progress in his studies, laying broad 
and deep a sure foundation for the useful 
career which he has subsequently led as an 
enterprising business man and trusted serv- 
ant of the public. Meantime of mornings 
and evenings he assisted his father in the 
store and his vacations were always spent 
behind the counter where, by intelligent ob- 
servation, he soon became familiar with the 
details of business and well acquainted with 
the underlying principles and ethics of com- 
mercial life. Young Hatfield pursued his 
studies until about ready to complete the 
last }-ear of the high school course, when 
he yielded to his own and his father's in- 
clinations by entering the employ of the 
mercantile firm of Hatfield & Son. He 
also became a partner in the Ossian Cream- 
er}- Company and for one year managed that 
enterprise to the satisfaction of the stock- 
holders and others concerned. Mr. Hat- 
field experienced his full share of the finan- 
cial disaster which caused such consterna- 
tion in business circles in 1893, but, with an 
energy born of a determination not to be- 
come discouraged, he rallied from the ef- 



fects of the blow and in due time again 
found himself on the high road to prosper- 
ity and ultimate success. Early displaying 
decided interest as well as marked aptitude 
for public aflfairs, he became a politician in 
the best sense of the term. Reared a Re- 
publican and believing most earnestly in the 
principles of the party, he espoused the 
cause with all the ardor of his nature and 
it was not long until he was recognized as 
one of the energetic young leaders in the 
county of Wells. His services bringing him 
to public notice, he was elected chairman of 
his precinct and as such served with marked 
ability, contributing much to the success of 
the ticket. For a number of years he served 
as delegate to the various county, district 
and state conventions and by reason of valu- 
able services rendered the part}- as well as 
on account of his recognized fitness for the 
position, his friends, in 1898, nominated him 
for the ofifice of clerk of the Wells circuit 
court. This signal mark of fa^-or was pe- 
culiarly complimentary in that it came to 
Mr. Hatfield unsolicited on his part, the one 
case in a thousand where the ofiice seeks 
the man instead of the man seeking the 
office. Accepting the nomination in the 
spirit in which it was tendered, he went 
into the contest with the determination to 
win and notwithstanding the strength of 
the opposition his thorough canvass, aided 
largely by personal popularity, enabled him 
to vanquish his competitor and secure the 
office by a small majority. This victory 
speaks much for Mr. Hatfield's high stand- 
ing with the people when taking into con- 
sideration the overwhelming odds arrayed 
against him in the contest, the county being 
reliably Democratic. Mr. Hatfield entered 
upon the discharge of his duties with the 



134 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



best wishes of the pubhc irrespective of 
part}' and that he has proven a most capable, 
courteous and obhging official is cheerfully 
conceded bj- all. His record thus far is with- 
out a blemish and such is his strength in his 
own county and district that his friends are 
justified in the prediction that the future 
awaits him with still higher honors which 
the people of the state at no distant day will 
take pride in conferring. 

It is not always easy to discover and de- 
fine the hidden forces that move a life of 
ceaseless activity; little more can be done 
than to note their manifestation in the in- 
dividual's career. In view of this fact the 
life of Mr. Hatfield affords a striking ex- 
ample of well defined purpose with the abil- 
ity to make that purpose subserve not only 
his own ends but the good of his fellow man 
as well. He has proven a useful member of 
the body politic and, rising high in the con- 
fidence and esteem of the public, has always 
acquitted himself honorably, never falling 
below the dignity of true manhood nor in 
any way resorting to the methods and wiles 
of the professional partisan or demagogue. 
He is essentially a man among men, mov- 
ing as one who commands respect by innate 
force as well as by acquired leadership. As 
a citizen he easily ranks with the most in- 
fluential of his county, as a politician he is 
above the suspicion of dishonorable prac- 
tice and all who have been favored with an 
intimate acquaintance with him are profuse 
in their praise of his upright course and 
manly virtues. 

Mr. Hatfield is a married man and the 
father of three children, whose names are 
Ethel, Hiram and Edgar. Mrs. Hatfield 
was formerly Miss Ella Gorrell, daughter 
of ^lilo and Marv Gorrell. and the ceremonv 



b}- which her name was changed to the one 
she now has was solemnized on the 13th day 
of September, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield 
are active members of the Presbyterian 
church, the former having served for a num- 
ber of years as superintendent of the Sun- 
day school, while both are deeply interested 
in disseminating the pure doctrines of Chris- 
tianity among men. Fraternally Mr. Hat- 
field is a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite 
Mason, and also a member of chapter, coun- 
cil and commandery of the York Rite, and 
is well and favorably known to the brother- 
hood throughout the state. He is identified 
with the Knights of Pythias and K. O. T. 
M., having been honored with important 
official positions in both organizations. He 
is also a charter member of Bluffton Lodge 
No. 796, B. P. O. E. 



NELSON KELLOGG TODD. 

Nelson Kellogg Todd, son of the late 
Jacob Jefferson Todd, is a native of Wells 
county. Indiana, born in the city of Bluff- 
ton on the loth day of February, 1867. His 
mother is Rachel J., daughter of Nelson 
Kellogg, one of the pioneers of his county. 
He early gave promise of intellectual pow- 
ers, and while still a youth made rapid prog- 
ress in his studies, completing the pre- 
scribed public school course when but six- 
teen years of age, graduating from the 
Bluffton high school in 1883. This was the 
first class ever graduated from that institu- 
tion and the subject was one of its young- 
est as well as one of its most creditable 
members. Having decided to make the law 
his profession, Mr. Todd began the study 
under his father's direction and in due time 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



135 



was sufficiently grounded in its principles 
to entitle him to admission to the bar. Ac- 
cordingly in 1889 he passed the required 
examination in the principles of law be- 
fore Hon. Joseph S. Dailey, judge of the 
twenty-eighth judicial district, and after his 
formal admission entered upon the practice 
at Bluffton in the office of Wilson & Todd, 
with whom he remained until the death 
of the former, wlien he became associ- 
ated with his father under the firm name of 
Todd & Todd. This partnership continued 
until the death of the senior member in 
1900. since which time the subject was 
alone in the practice until April i, 1902, 
when he formed a partnership with Frank 
W. Gordon, under the firm name of Todd 
& Gordon. 

Mr. Todd's recognized legal ability soon 
■won him a large and lucrative practice and 
it was not long until he became one of the 
leading members of the BlufYton bar. His 
practice gradually extended into adjoining 
counties, and for a numlier of years his 
name has appeared in connection with the 
majority of important cases tried in the 
courts of his native county of Wells. As a 
lawyer he ranks with the ablest of his com- 
peers, being a safe and reliable counsellor, 
thoroughly skilled in the arts of practice. 
Being a man of quick mental processes, his 
reach and grasp of legal questions and prin- 
ciples are unusually wide and far-reaching. 
In his practice he never resorts to any of 
the devices of superficial men, but makes 
himself a necessity to those having compli- 
cated cases. Mr. Todd is unacquainted with 
the wiles to which the unscrupulous practi- 
tioner resorts to gain his end, and has noth- 
ing but scorn for the lawyer who by disrep- 
utable means lowers the dignity of the pro- 



fession which, as the conservator of justice, 
should command the unbounded respect and 
confidence of all. Actuated by correct and 
lofty motives, his reputation for honorable 
dealing with his associates and clients has 
won him a high place in the esteem of the 
public and, as already stated, he stands to- 
day among the leading and successful coun- 
sellors in a part of the state where legal abil- 
ity is recognized and appreciated at its true 
worth. Like his father before him, Mr. 
Todd is a politician, and as such has been 
an influential factor in the Republican part}' 
e\er since old enough to wield the elective 
franchise. He has been an untiring worker 
in the ranks, a judicious adviser in part}' 
councils and for a number of years past it 
has fallen to him to attend as a delegate the 
various conventions, county, state and dis- 
trict. In the year 1892 he was a candidate 
for the office of prosecuting attorney, but the 
county being nominally Democratic by a 
large majority, he, with the rest of the 
ticket, failed of election, although receiving 
much more than the strength of his party. 
Fraternally Mr. Todd has long been an 
ardent member of the Masonic order, in 
which he has risen to the degrees of chapter 
and council. He is also identified with var- 
ious other fraternal and benevolent organi- 
zations, in several of which he has been 
honored with high official station. He is an 
enthusiastic member of the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks, being a charter 
member of Blufifton Lodge No. 796. In 
early life Mr. Todd learned the printer's 
trade and after becoming an efficient work- 
man he set type in a number of offices in 
different states. At one time he seriously 
considered the advisability of devoting his 
life to journalism and had he done so he 



136 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



doubtless would lia\e attained prominence 
and distinction in that useful field of en- 
deavor. As a citizen he is popular with all 
classes and conditions of people, inheriting 
many of the sterling characteristics and ad- 
mirable qualities for which his father was 
peculiarly distinguished. Public spirited, 
he gives countenance and support to all 
measures for the material advancement of 
his city and county, being greatly inter- 
ested in the industrial development of the 
country, as well as encouraging to the ex- 
tent of his ability the improvement of the 
community's social and moral conditions. 

]\Ir. Todd's domestic relations are most 
pleasant and agreeable, being the head of a 
household which is presided over by a lady 
of culture and refinement to whom he was 
united in the bonds of wedlock on the i8th 
day of June, 189 1. Mrs. Todd was for- 
merly Miss Jeannette A. Patterson, daughter 
of Capt. and Mrs. Robert D. Patterson, of 
Adams county, this state. She is well 
known in the society circles of Bluffton, and 
is noted for her many virtues and excellent 
traits of character. Mr. and Mrs. Todd have 
one child, Margaret, whose birth occurred 
on the 28th of August, iSg:^. 



JOSIAH FEESER. 

The popular citizen and enterprising 
business man whose name furnishes the 
heading of this review needs no formal in- 
troduction to the people of BlufYton and 
Wells county. For many years identified 
with industrial interests and always taking 
active part in promoting the welfare of the 
public, he has risen to a high place in busi- 
ness circles, besides earning the reputation of 



one of the county's progressive men of af- 
fairs. Paternally Mr. Feeser is descended 
from German ancestry and traces his family 
history to an early period in the annals of 
Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where his 
father, John G. Feeser, was born and 
reared. By occupation John was a black- 
smith, in connection with which trade he 
also carried on the pursuit of agriculture in 
his native state, at one time owning four 
hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in 
the county of Lebanon. In i860 he disposed 
of his interests there and moved to Spring- 
field, Ohio, where he remained about three 
years, changing his residence about 1865 to 
Wells county. Indiana. In 1863 he enlisted 
in an Ohio regiment and served gallantly 
until the close of the war, shortly after 
which he opened a shop in Blufifton and be- 
gan working at his trade upon quite an ex- 
tensi\-e scale. He built up a large and lu- 
crative business in general blacksmithing, 
wagon and carriage making, in which his 
son, the subject of this sketch, subsequently 
became a partner, this establishment being 
the largest and most successful industr}' of 
the kind in the city, John G. Feeser was a 
man of high character, an excellent citizen 
and did much to promote the business inter- 
ests of Blufifton. He ser\-ed several terms 
in the town council and as a public oflicial 
was untiring in his efforts to subserve the 
material good of the county, at the same 
time proving a safe and conservative cus- 
todian of the people's interests. By untir- 
ing industry and correct business methods 
he accumulated an ample fortune, conserv- 
atively estimated at twenty-five thousand 
dollars, and continued to manage his affairs 
until advancing age obliged him to retire 
from active life. Politicallv he was a Demo- 




^uJ^ Qj^7l2c^ 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL'\NA. 



^Z7 



crat, fraternally a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic and in matters of re- 
ligion an earnest and devout worker in the 
Baptist church. He lived a long and use- 
ful life and entered into rest on the 7th day 
of April, 1900. at the age of seventy-five. 
Five children were born to John G. and 
Lydia (Weaver) Feeser. namely: John H., 
Josiah, Morris, Alfred and I^aura, all li\-- 
ing, the father being the first of the family 
to be called to the other life. 

Josiah Feeser was born in Lebanon 
county. Pennsylvania, on the 23rd day of 
December. 1855. He received his educa- 
tional training in the public schools of 
Springfield. Ohio, and Blufifton, Lidiana, 
and at the early age of twelve entered his 
father's shop for the purpose of learning 
blacksmithing. Naturally skilled in the use 
of tools, he soon became an efficient work- 
man and for a number of years was his 
father's able assistant, later, as already 
stated, becoming a partner in the business. 
In iSSo he was united in marriage to ]\Iiss 
Josie Kretner. of Ft. Wayne, daughter of 
Joseph Kretner. and one year later became 
a member of the firm of Feeser & Son, 
which relationship continued until the 
father's death in 1900. 

Since the latter year Mr. Feeser has 
been sole proprietor of the establishment 
and has more than doubled its capacit}-. He 
employs a large number of skillful work- 
men, does all kinds of blacksmithing. manu- 
factures wagons, carriages, buggies and 
other vehicles, besides carrying on an ex- 
tensi\-e repair shop which has proven one of 
the most remunerative departments of his 
large and constantly increasing business. 
I-amiliar with every detail of his establish- 
ment and possessing executive ability of 



high order, Mr. Feeser has never met with 
a reverse of fortune. His career has been 
most satisfactory from a financial point of 
view, his business at this time being confined 
to Bluffton and adjacent country, although 
many of his vehicles are shipped to other 
cities in Indiana and adjoining states. 

^Ir. Feeser's record as a business man is 
without a blemish, while his sterling worth 
as a neighbor and citizen has won for him 
a host of friends and given him a position 
among the leading men of his adopted city. 
Primarily interested in his own affairs, he 
has not been neglectful of his duties to the 
public, consequently his name is identified 
with all commendable enterprises for the 
general good of the community. He is an 
active member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, having been honored with im- 
portant official positions in both subordinate 
lodge and encampment. He is also a lead- 
ing worker in the Pythian brotherhood and 
Improved Order of Red Men, belonging 
to the Uniform Rank in the former and fill- 
ing important stations in both organizations. 
Mr. Feeser is not only a devout believer in 
revealed religion, but exemplifies his faith 
in his daily walk and conversation. He 
holds membership in the Baptist church of 
Bluffton, as does also his wife, and is one 
of the pillars of the congregation, using his 
influence and expending his means liberally 
for its support. In his political views he is 
a pronounced Democrat and has long been 
an aggressive worker in the party. In 1896 
he was one of six candidates for the office 
of county recorder, but failed of election by 
only eighty-one votes, running far in ad- 
vance of the rest of his ticket. 

All of Mr. Feeser's business life has been 
spent in Bluffton and his personal history 



138 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



presents no pages blotted by unworthy ac- 
tions. Few men here are as weU and favor- 
ably known and none enjoy higher standing 
as a generous, obliging and self sacrificing 
friend. His hand is ever open to accommo- 
date the needy and no worthy object has ever 
appealed to him in vain for material assist- 
ance. To know him is to honor him, the 
large share of public esteem which he com- 
mands attesting his value to the community. 
Mr. and Mrs. Feeser have a beautiful home 
supplied with many of the conveniences and 
comforts of life, and their domestic relations 
are indeed most pleasant and agreeable. 
They are the parents of three children, 
whose names are Jasper, Jesse and Nina. 



ISAAC NEWTON HATFIELD, M. D. 

The subject of this sketch has attained 
an enviable position in the medical world, 
gaining distinguished repute which comes 
only through ability and skill, the legitimate 
reward of faithful and persistent efifort. 
Progressive in the broadest sense of the 
term, he keeps abreast the times in all mat- 
ters pertaining to his noble calling and his 
advanced methods and thorough under- 
standing have brought him not only eni- 
ment professional success but liberal finan- 
cial rewards as well. Dr. Isaac Newton 
Hatfield is a lineal descendant of John Hat- 
field, a noted banker and business man of 
England who figured prominently in the 
commercial and financial affairs of the East 
Indies about the middle of the eighteenth 
century. For particulars concerning the 
Hatfield genealogy the reader is respectfully 
referred to the sketch of James Clement 



Hatfield, in which the family history is 
given at some length. Adam Hatfield, son 
of the above John, came to America about 
tiiC year 1772 and settled in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, subsequently moving 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his death oc- 
curred. Among his children was a son by 
the name of Joseph who as early as 1839 
came to Wells county, Indiana, and located in 
Jefiferson township where he cleared a farm 
and became a leading man of affairs. This 
was his home until his death, June 29, 1876, 
at the age of eighty-five years. He was 
twice married. B3' his first wife, Phelie 
Peppard, he had nine children : Margaret, 
Isaac, Elizabeth, Robert, Mary, Rebecca, 
John, David and Phoebe. By his second 
wife, Mary A. Marshall, he had two sons, 
Gilmore and Robison. The son John mar- 
ried Ann Harter and to this couple was 
born, on the i8th day of August, 1856, the 
subject of this biography. 

Isaac Newton Hatfield first saw the light 
of day in what is now Union township and 
received his early training in close touch 
with nature on his father's farm. During 
the summer months his employments were 
such as are common to country boys and 
after the harvests were gathered and the 
work of the year done he attended the public 
school in the neighborhood. To these early 
years, under the tutelage of parents whose 
ambition was to engraft upon the minds of 
the children such principles as would insure 
honor and usefulness, the Doctor is largely 
indebted for that integrity of character and 
well defined purpose that have pre-eminent- 
ly distinguished him in his life work. After 
finishing the common school course he en- 
tered the graded school of Blufifton where 
he pursued his studies with great assiduity. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLAXA. 



139 



obtaining a knowledge of some of the high- 
er branches of learning. Actuated by a 
laudable desire to add to his educational dis- 
cipline, he subsequently became a student 
of the Northern Indiana Normal Univers- 
ity of Valparaiso and after spending two 
years in that institution entered Hanover 
College where he prosecuted his intellectual 
work about the same length of time. By 
reason of ill health he was obliged to quit 
his studies before completing the prescribed 
course, after which he traveled quite ex- 
tensively throughout the west with the ob- 
ject in view of recuperating his physical 
energies. In this way he not only satisfied 
his desire for seeing something of the vast 
extent of our country and learning of its 
wonderful resources, but added largely to 
his experience and increased those powers 
of mind which have since been often drawn 
upon in the requirements of the profession 
in which he has achieved such signal hon- 
ors. While acquiring his literary education 
the Doctor taught two terms of school in his 
natiA^e county and had he seen fit to con- 
tinue in that useful work he doubtless would 
have become distinguished as an educator. 
But there comes a time in every young man's 
life when the desire for a permanent calling 
rises superior to every other consideration 
and to this the subject was no exception. 
Having selected medicine as the profession 
best suited to his taste, he at once addressed 
himself to a preparatory course of discipline, 
after which, in 188 1, he entered the medical 
department of the Iowa University, at Iowa 
City. He prosecuted his studies and investi- 
gations in that institution until completing 
the course in 1884, meantime during the 
summer of the previous years doing special 
work in the College of Phvsicians and Sur- 



geons at Chicago. Immediately after gradu- 
ating. Dr. Hatfield began the practice of his 
profession at Osakee, Jefiferson county, 
Kansas, but after a residence of two and a 
half years at that place he was led to seek 
another location on account of his health, 
which had broken down under the unfavor- 
able influence of the climate and stress of 
professional duty. In 1887 he returned to 
his native county and opened an office at 
Bluffton, where he has since remained, 
meantime building up the large and lucra- 
tive practice which he now commands. 

Dr. Hatfield brought to his calling a 
mind well trained by severe intellectual and 
professional discipline and with an ambition 
to excel has steadily advanced until he is 
now easily the peer of any man in a city 
noted for the high order of its medical tal- 
ent. He has ever been a student and so ab- 
sorbing is his industry that he knows not 
what it is to eat the bread of idleness. In 
him are combined the essential qualities and 
characteristics of the ideal family physician, 
the kindly presence, the gentle touch, the 
courteous demeanor, which at once enlists 
the sympathy both of patient and friends 
and without which the most skillful treat- 
ment ofttimes proves unavailing. Equally 
proficient in medicine and surgery, his suc- 
cess in many critical cases and delicate opera- 
tions early brought him prominently to the 
notice of the public and now in addition to 
his home practice, which includes a wide 
range, he is frequently called to distant 
places to treat diseases which bafifle the skill 
of the ordinary physician. In order the 
more thoroughly to acquaint himself in the 
latest discoveries in medicinal science and to 
become familiar with the most approved 
methods of modern practice. Dr. Hatfield, 



[40 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



in the year 1892-3, took a post-graduate 
course in the PolycHnic College, Chicago, 
where, under the direction of some of the 
most distinguished professors of the land, 
he fitted h.mself for still greater usefulness 
as a healer of humanity. While in Kansa? 
lie was a member of the medical association 
of that state and since locating at Bluffton 
he has been identified with the Wells 
County Medical Society and the Medical 
Society of Indiana, having served as presi- 
dent of the former. 

\\'hile a student in the Iowa L^niversity 
Dr. Hatfield became acquainted with a 
young lady of culture and refinement by the 
name of Cora B. Watson, between whom 
and himself a warm attachment soon sprang 
up, which, ripening into love, eventually led 
to marriage. The ceremony which made 
the two husband and wife was solemnized 
on the 4th day of June. 1884, and the union 
has been lilessed with one child, a daugh- 
ter. Miss Nina, whose birth occurred Sep- 
tember 10, 1887. Mrs. Hatfield was born 
at West Liberty, Iowa, and is the daughter 
of Albert Watson, an enterprising and suc- 
cessful farmer of that state. 

While interested in all movements for 
the public good and taking a pardonable 
pride in the growth and welfare of Bluff- 
ton and Wells county, the Doctor has little 
time to devote to affairs outside his own 
profession. He is an exceedingly busy 
man, consequently has entertained no ambi- 
tion for political distinction nor has he ever 
been an aspirant for office of any kind. In 
politics he is a Republican, but beyond vot- 
ing for his party nominees he has little to do 
with the distraction of partisan strife. As 
stated in a preceding paragraph, the Doc- 
tor's financial success has been commensur- 



ate with his professional advancement and 
he is now in independent circumstances. 
He has a comfortable and attractive home 
on West Cherry street, where, after the busy 
cares of the day are over, he finds in an al- 
most ideal domestic circle that rest and re- 
creation which only a busy, energetic man 
of his mental and social character knows 
so well how to appreciate and enjoy. In 
addition to the members of his immediate 
household Dr. Hatfield has opened his home 
to his wife's nephew, an orphan boy, whom 
he is rearing and educating with the same 
attention he would bestow upon a child of 
his own. Religiously the Doctor and fam- 
ily are Presbyterians; socially they are fa- 
vorites in the best societ}- circles of the city. 
The foregoing is but a feeble attempt to out- 
line the career of this intelligent, broad 
minded and pre-eminently honorable man. 
Belonging to one of the oldest, best known 
and most respectable families of Wells 
county, his course in life has been such as 
to add to its honorable reputation and doubt- 
less he will leave to his descendants the same 
spotless name for which his ancestors were 
distinguished. He is now in the prime of 
manhood, physically and intellectually, with 
many years of usefulness yet before him, and 
it is a compliment worthily bestowed to 
state that there are few who can compete 
with him in all that goes to make up the pol- 
ished, courteous and praiseworthy gentle- 
men. 



SYLVESTER LOUNSBURY. 

Sylvester Lounsbury was born March 
6, 1844, in Jackson township. Wells county, 
Indiana, in sight of the place where he now 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



lives. His parents, Smith Lounsbury, born 
in 1 80 1, and Jeannett (Tomlinson) Louns- 
luiry, born in 1804, were natives of the state 
(if Connecticut. After Smith's marriage he 
first settled in Connecticut, engaged in farm 
work, remaining there until the year 183 1, 
when he emigrated with his family to Co- 
shocton county, Ohio, where he remained 
about two years. At that time, about 1833, 
he removed to Marion, Grant county, Indi- 
ana, when one or two log cabins constituted 
all there was of the now bustling and im- 
portant city on the banks of the Mississin- 
ewa. About 1840 he moved onto the Sali- 
nionie river in \\'ells Cfiunty, and here en- 
tered at one time about four hundred acres 
nf land in the woods. There were no roads 
at this time, but bridle paths led from 
Marion to his new possessions. In going 
to and returning from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 
where the land office was then located, he 
would lie down and sleep in the woods be- 
side the path when and wherever night 
would overtake him. Smith Lounsbury was 
the father of seven children, three of whom 
are yet living: Jane, born in Connecticut 
February 16, 1825, deceased; Truman, born 
in Connecticut, January 9, 1828, deceased: 
Nathan, born in Connecticut July 8, 1830, 
deceased; Hannah, born in Ohio October 5, 
1832; Matilda, born in Marion, Indiana. 
July 22, 1835, deceased : Henrietta, born 
November 3, 1837, on Sugar creek in Grant 
county, widow of J. I. McGrew, Montpe- 
lier, Indiana, who is now deceased: Sylves- 
ter, the subject, born on Salimonie river in 
Wells county. 

The subject attended the district schools 
of Jackson township until he was twelve 
years of age. While he did not attend 
school after that early age, yet he is self- 



educated to an extent sufificient to enable 
him to attend to all kinds of business. He 
has been a commissioner of Wells county 
and is now serving as a justice of the peace 
and finds no difficulty in transacting the 
business appertaining to those positions. 
The elder Lounsbury died when the sub- 
ject was Init a child, and when the latter was 
seventeen years of age he assumed the man- 
agement of the farm, remaining home, car- 
ing for and supporting his mother. He con- 
tinued thus until he was about twenty years 
old. when he decided to do for himself, and 
went into Delaware county, working by 
the day and month three years in that and 
Henry county, spending also some time in 
this manner in Michigan. After working 
five years in this way, he returned home to 
again care for his mother and was with her 
until her death. The last two years of her 
life she was continually in a very poor state 
of health and the subject believes he spent 
five hundred nights during that time at her 
bedside, working on the farm during the 
daytime. 

Sylvester Lounsbury was married 
March 10. 1877, to Mahala Matlack, who 
was born November 14, 1856, in Preble 
county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Wil- 
liam and Catherine (Stambach) Matlack, 
William being a native of Pennsylvania and 
Catherine of Ohio. William was married 
and first settled in Ohio, but about the year 
1857 they removed to Huntington county, 
Indiana, purchasing the old McFarren 
farm, on which they lived the remainder 
of their lives. William Matlack was the 
father of four children, all of whom are 
living : David T., farmer in Liberty town- 
ship. Wells county, married Mary E. Prid- 
dy and is the father of two sons, George A. 



142 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and Edward ; Mary J. is the wife of Thomas 
Mounsey, a farmer of Liberty township, 
and is the mother of three children, Mahala, 
Debbie and Ehia ; Martha, wife of Thomas 
Weekly, a resident of Wells county, was 
first married to Palmer McKee, and is the 
mother of four children, David, Ida, Wil- 
liam and Mattie; Mahala, the wife of the 
subject. Mrs, Lounsbury was but a child 
when brought to Huntington county by 
her parents, and she was here reared, re- 
ceiving her education in the common 
schools. She is a lady of most pleasing ad- 
dress, of an affectionate nature, and has 
been a true and loving wife and mother. By 
her untiring efiforts she has assisted largely 
in the erection of their cosy and comfort- 
able home. After his marriage the subject 
settled on the farm he now occupies. He 
had at that time one hundred and twenty 
acres of land, on which he has since made 
many improvements and to which he has 
added by purchase two tracts of fifty-three 
acres and eighty acres respectively, and he 
now has a fine farm of two hundred and 
fifty-three acres in Wells county. He now 
has fourteen producing oil wells, which are 
probably yielding from sixty to sixty-five 
barrels of oil per day. 

. The subject devotes the greater part of 
his time to farming and especially to stock- 
raising. He has handled some western 
horses and has been greatly interested in 
cattle, especially of the shorthorrt variety. 
Of sheep he prefers the Shropshire breed. 
The subject is the father of eight children: 
Wells, born July 25, 1884, at home; 
Vaughn, born January 5, 1888, at home; 
Ralph, born May 15, 1886; Cletus, born 
February 16, 1890; Fern, born November 
30, 1891 ; Earl, born February 5, 1893; 



Jeanette, born May 3, 1894; Winnie, born 
May 10, 1897. 

Mr. Lounsbury has always acted with 
the Democratic party and is a firm be- 
liever in the principles of that organization. 
He was elected, by his party about 1880, as 
one of the commissioners of Wells county, 
and served for three years, his colleagues 
being Studabaker and John Sowards, who 
died soon after the subject became a mem- 
ber of the board, Ephraim Middaugh being 
appointed to the vacancy for the unexpired 
term. The first official business transacted 
after the subject became a member of the 
board was the letting of the contract for 
the Wells county jail. The first gravel 
roads in the county were built during his 
term of office. At about the same time the 
iron bridges in the county were also built, 
the old wooden bridges going down at that 
time and iron ones being generally substi- 
tuted, the board advertising at one time for 
bids on as many as ten iron bridges for 
crossing streams in different parts of the 
county, but the board from some cause 
failed to receive a single bid on these 
bridges. The subject, as he says, "took the 
ox by the horns," contracted for the stone 
and hired men to build the bridges. Mr. 
Lounsbury was appointed and afterward 
elected assessor and land appraiser for Jack- 
son township, in which capacity he served 
for three years. Since November, 1901, 
he has been serving as justice of the peace 
of his township. 

It has been the lot of the subject of this 
sketch to live at a period of our national 
history which has enabled him to see many 
of the transitions of the country from that 
of the possession of simply the utilitarian 
necessities of a new countrv and a border 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



143 



civilization to that of the luxuries and cul- 
ture which are the sequence of older and 
longer settled communities. His labors and 
experiences have partaken of the nature 
both of the pioneer and the recipients of the 
fruits of a yet earlier race of empire build- 
ers. Armed with the mental equipment se- 
cured in the common school, supported by the 
scant facilities of his early youth, he entered 
and bravely faced the battles of life. De- 
prived in childhood of a father's love and 
protection, he devoted years of his youth 
and young manhood to the filial care and 
support of his widowed mother. In the 
race of life, which his friends hope may not 
close for many j'cars, his native ability, sup- 
plemented by his self improvement and uni- 
ted with his strength of character, has en- 
abled him to win a competence and serve 
with honor in the several offices to which 
the esteem and confidence of his party 
friends has successively called him. He is 
a successful farmer and business man, a 
good citizen and neighbor and worthy of 
the high estimation in which he is held. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lounsbury have in their 
possession several relics of "ye olden days," 
among which are two double coverlets, and 
a counterpane woven or made by Mrs. 
Lounsbury's mother. They also have 
copies of the oldest almanacs extant, one, 
published in 1816, having been published by 
Cotton and called "New Virginia Alma- 
nack;" also an almanac of 1805, and a Bible 
printed about iSoo. 



MRS. ELIZABETH GEHRETT. 

Among the more prominent, refined and 
noble ladies of Bluffton and Wells county. 



Indiana, is Mrs. Elizabeth Gehrett, who was 
born about fifty-two years ago in Medina 
county, Ohio, a daughter of David and 
Christina (Shaffer) Keller, natives of Ger- 
many. David and Christina Keller were 
both children when brought to America by 
their respective parents, who settled in Me- 
dina coimty, Ohio, in close proximity to 
each other, and there the two children grew 
to maturity together and in due time were 
united in marriage. David Keller engaged 
largely in farming and stock raising in 
Medina county, Ohio, was a quiet and un- 
assuming gentleman, was held in the high- 
est esteem by his neighbors, and passed the 
remainder of his life on his farm. 

To David and Christina Keller were 
born eight children, of whom six are still 
living, two of the daughters being married 
to well-to-do farmers in Nottingham town- 
ship, Wells county. Elizabeth, one of these 
six survivors, was reared on the home farm 
and in her girlhood days was familiar with 
the duties pertaining to a rural home. Dur- 
ing the proper seasons of the year she was 
sent to the district school and, being bright 
and apt, easily acquired the knowledge with 
which her mind is so well stored today ; later 
on she attended the normal school and was 
trained to the technicalities of teaching. 

On coming from her native state to 
Wells county, Indiana, to visit an elder sister 
in Nottingham township, Elizabeth Keller 
was employed for several terms as a school 
teacher and while thus engaged she formed 
the acquaintance of Henry S. Gehrett, a 
native of the township and a son of Amos 
Gehrett. This acquaintanceship ripened into 
a warmer feeling and September 20, 1868, 
Henry S. Gehrett and Elizabeth Keller were 
joined in the holy bonds of matrimony. 



144 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Henry S. Gehrett was born in 1846 and 
was reared to farming and stock raising, 
but in early life he was given ample oppor- 
tunity to attend the district schools during 
the winter seasons and thus secured a very 
fair education. On reaching his majority 
he engaged in agriculture on his own ac- 
count and farmed on a very extensive scale 
and also raised great numbers of cattle and 
other live stock. He was a man of true 
worth and honesty and was ever recognized 
as one of the best citizens of Wells county. 

In 1889 Henry S. Gehrett withdrew 
from farming and took up his residence in 
Bluffton and engaged in the livery business, 
in which he continued the remainder of his 
life, dying March 31, 1894. Although not 
a member of any church. Mr. Gehrett was 
a liberal contributor to all the congregations 
in his neighborhood and was himself a 
strictly moral man, being guided in all his 
acts by the sublime lesson inculcated by the 
Master in his Sermon on the Mount and 
familiarly designated as the Golden Rule. 
In politics Mr. Gehrett was a Democrat and 
was active in the interests of his party, but 
preferred to devote his attention to his pri- 
vate affairs and the interests of his family. 

To Henry S. and Elizabeth (Shaffer) 
Gehrett were born three children, viz : 
Sarah A., deceased; Amos S. and Hugh L., 
also deceased. The departure of these chil- 
dren leaves Mrs. Gehrett somewhat forlorn 
in the decline of life, but she possesses ex- 
cellent business qualifications and ably 
manages her farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, eighty acres of which reach the in- 
corporated town of Bluffton and one hun- 
dred and sixty acres a little further away in 
Nottingham township. The residence of 
Mrs. Gehrett, however, is on East Market 



street, Bluffton, where she has a beautiful 
home. 

Mrs. Gehrett is a lady of culture and re- 
finement and is held in high esteem by the 
entire population of Harrison township as 
well as Bluffton. 



R. A. KILANDER. 



R. A. Kilander was born in Jackson 
township. Wells county, Indiana, and is a 
son of Perry and Elizabeth (Martin) 
Kilander, the former a native of Kentucky 
and the latter of the state of Ohio. His 
parents were married in Ohio, where they 
settled and engaged in farming for a few 
years. In a very early day they removed to 
Jackson township. Wells county, Indiana, 
where the wife, Mary E., died March 14, 
1901, and where the father is yet living on 
the old home place, at the venerable age of 
eighty years. Perry Kilander is the father 
of twelve children, ten of whom are living : 
Margaret, Maria, Elizabeth, deceased, Cal- 
vin, deceased, William, Mottrey, Olive, R. 
A., the subject, Rebecca, Jacob, Emma and 
John. 

Mr. Kilander attended the district 
schools in Jackson township. Wells county, 
until the age of eighteen years. He then 
went to school in Bluffton, Indiana, for two 
terms, one in the normal and the other in 
the city schools, while under the super- 
intendency of Colonel McCleary. He then 
secured license to teach, but never had much 
desire to enter that profession. He re- 
mained at home with his parents until he 
was twenty-one years old, at which time he 
was married, on March 25, 1882, to Emily 
McTntyre, who was born in West Virginia. 




R. A. KILANDER VIEW. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



145 



April 12. 1862. She was the daughter of 
A\"ilhani and Mary (Fearnow) Mclntyre, 
botli natives of Virg-inia. who later settled 
in Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, 
on the farm where the subject now lives, 
remaining there until they died. William 
Alclntyre's death occurred on December 2, 
1900, and that of his wife December 11, 
1890. W'illiam was the father of four chil- 
dren, two of whom are yet alive: Zelpha, 
born September 17. 1839, died May 26, 
1842; Mary, born December 11. 1840, died 
^lay 28, 1842 ; Richard, born August jj, 
1842. and Emily, born April 12, 1862. 
After his marriage R. A. Kilander moved 
onto his father-in-law's farm and, farming 
on shares, he remained there until the death 
of both of his wife's parents, since which 
time he has had full control of the old Mc- 
lntyre farm. Mr. Kilander, together with 
his father-in-law, had previously purchased 
a one-half interest in the old Mclntyre farm, 
which up to that time belonged to Harrison 
Mclntyre, a brother of William. Some time 
previous to his death William had disposed 
of his interest in the farm to his children, 
reserving a life-time lease. Air. Kilander 
and wife now have three hundred and sixty 
and a half acres of fine land, one hundred 
and twenty acres of which is in Chester 
township. He has twenty-four producing 
oil wells on his farms and others are being 
drilled. 

In ]\Iarch, 1900, Mr. Kilander complet- 
ed the finest house in Wells county and one 
of the finest in the state, which cost about 
eight thousand dollars, the work on which 
he himself superintended. He had plans 
drawn, but no architect oversaw the build- 
ing. He had the finishing lumber which 
was used in the construction of the building 



laid away seasoning for twelve years. It is 
finished in different costly woods, showing 
the natural grain, and the house is heated 
and lighted by gas. It is constructed of 
brick and stone, with mansard roof. The 
furnishings of the house are costly and in 
elegant taste and the home is a credit to the 
state. Mr. Kilander is a breeder of both 
Chester White and Poland China hogs and a 
general class of cattle. He prefers, however, 
the shorthorn breed when he can obtain 
them. He farms, or at least oversees the 
farming of, the greater part of his lands. 

Mr. Kilander is the father of eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living: Charles E., 
born December 20, 1882, married Nannie E. 
Alexander and lives at home with his father ; 
Mary A., born March 9, 1884: William, 
born February 24, 1886; Carrie A., born 
September 10, 1889, died September 9, 
1890; Lulu M., born June 30, 1891 ; Lela 
A., born April 23, 1895 ; Robb M., born Sep- 
tember 21, 1899. and Catherine L., born 
August 23. 1 90 1. The subject has always 
been a Democrat, although he was not reared 
in that political faith. He has been trustee 
of Jackson township for five years, the three 
preceding terms having been held by Re- 
publicans who had been elected by both Re- 
publicans and Populists. This fact proves 
his personal popularity among his neighbors. 
The subject is also superintendent of sev- 
enteen miles of gravel roads in this county, 
the appointment to which position is made 
by the county commissioners. 

R. A. Kilander is a representative of 
the energetic, go-ahead class of farmers of 
the state, a product of the farm life and the 
admirable system of our country and city 
schools. He is a citizen in whom any lo- 
cality might take pride. The capacity and 



146 



WELLS .COUNTY, INDIANA. 



aptitude for public affairs which he possesses 
and his own personal popularity, with the 
confidence of his neighbors and party friends 
in his integrity and executive ability, has al- 
ready enabled him to serve them in a public 
capacity, and the same conditions will no 
doubt in the future call him to other and 
higher trusts in the public service. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kilander have an old 
fashioned spinning wheel and reel of "ye 
old days" of their mothers. They have some 
of the old family records of the Mclntyre 
and Fearnow families which dates to 18 15 
and 18 1 7, these beautiful records being exe- 
cuted with pen and ink. The great-grand- 
father of Mrs. Kilander has left his record 
also from Scotch-Irish ancestry, and dates 
back to 1754 and 1773. Mrs. Kilander has 
some of her grandmother's dishes, over a 
century old, and also double combs. 



W. A. DONALDSON. 

Among all branches of history, there is 
none more instructive or more eagerly 
sought after than that which truthfully de- 
lineates the rise and progress of the state, 
county or community in which the reader 
lives. There is pleasure as well as profit 
to every intelligent mind in contemplating 
the struggles of the early settlers in every 
portion of the great west ; how they encoun- 
tered and successfully overcame every 
species of trial, hardship and danger to 
which men in that stirring period were sub- 
jected. But these things strike us more 
forcibly and fill our minds with more imme- 
diate interest when confined to our own lo- 
cality where we can vet occasionallv meet 



with some of the silver haired actors in 
those early scenes, men whose bravery in 
encountering the manifold troubles and mis- 
fortunes incident to frontier times has 
borne an important part towards making 
Indiana what it now is and whose acts, in 
connection with hundreds of others in the 
first settling of our vast domain, have com- 
pelled the world to acknowledge the Amer- 
icans an invincible people. The early set- 
tlement of Wells county was marked by as 
much heroism and daring as characterized 
the frontier history of any other section of 
the state. Her pioneers were men of invin- 
cible courage, undaunted by no obstacle, and 
the results of their self-sacrificing labors are 
today seen in the wonderful achievements 
they wrought in laying the foundation upon 
which their successors have builded wisely 
and well. The great majority of these vet- 
terans of the early day long since finished 
their work and are now sleeping the peace- 
ful sleep which knows no waking on this 
side of the mystic stream of death. To 
meet and converse with the few living rep- 
resentatives of the pioneer period, those 
who came here as children or as very young 
men and women and are now fast approach- 
ing or have passed the allotted three score 
years and ten, stooped with age, venerable 
patriarchs mostly and their white haired 
companions and helpmeets, is one of the 
peculiar experiences and pleasing tasks 
which falls to the lot of the writers of these 
pages. To gather up the raveled and 
now mostly broken threads of the strange 
but simple stories of their lives, to catch the 
fleeting facts of their histories and hand 
them on to posterity, might well be the am- 
bitious labor of any man's life. 

Among the oldest surviving pioneers of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



147 



Wells county is the well known gentleman 
whose name furnishes the heading of this 
review. W. A. Donaldson came to Indiana 
nearly fifty-three years ago and from that 
time to the present his life has been very 
closely identified with the growth and devel- 
opment of Wells county. In his veins is 
mingled the blood of a long line of sturdy 
Scotch and Irish ancestors and he appears 
to have inherited many of the sterling char- 
acteristics which have made those nationali- 
ties noted among the people of the earth. 
From the most reliable information obtain- 
able the first representatives of the Donald- 
son family to visit the United States was 
one Isaac Donaldson, who left the shores of 
his native Scotland early in the colonial per- 
iod and found a home in eastern Pennsyl- 
vania when that part of the Keystone state 
was a wilderness iqfested by wild beasts and 
the scarcely less wild but more bloodthirsty 
red men. He became the father of three 
daughters and one son, the latter, James by 
name, the grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch. Not long after locating in Penn- 
sylvania the French and Indian war broke 
out and in the long and arduous struggle 
which followed the elder Donaldson took a 
l)ra\-e and active part. Joining a company 
of volunteers he participated in a number 
of bloody battles in one of which he lost 
his life, leaving his children to the care of 
his widow by whom they were reared to 
years of maturity. 

James Donaldson grew to manhood in 
Pennsylvania and there married Martha 
Reynolds, whose people were also among 
the early pioneers of that state. To this mar- 
riage were born sons and daughters, among 
whom was Robert Donaldson, the father of 
the subject. The famil}' achieved much 



more than local prominence in that several 
of the brothers of Robert became noted in 
dififerent walks of life, among their descend- 
ants being a minister of distinction, success- 
ful architects, well-to-do farmers and others 
who rose to leading public positions in their 
own and other states. Robert Donaldson 
was reared to agricultural pursuits, but 
early in life turned his attention to carpen- 
try and in due time became a skillful and 
successful builder. In 1850 he left West- 
moreland county, Pennsylvania, where he 
had previously lived, and came to Wells 
county, Indiana, settling in the deep woods 
of what is now the township of Lancaster, 
where he purchased land and began the task 
of its improvement. After erecting a 
small cabin of the most primitive pattern 
he addressed himself to the formidable 
work of clearing a farm, which in due sea- 
son was accomplished. After the death of 
his first wife he moved to Ossian, where 
some time later he took a second companion, 
and after her death he migrated to Iowa, of 
which state he was also a pioneer. Mr. 
Donaldson spent the remainder of his days 
in Iowa, dying there a number of years ago 
respected by all who knew him. Reared 
according to the strict teaching of the Pres- 
byterian church, he became a prominent 
member of that body and lived a life consis- 
tent with his religious profession. Gifted 
in music, he devoted his splendid talents to 
the worship of God and wherever he lived 
invariably led the singing in the churches 
with which he worshipped. He was a good 
man, just in all his dealings, kept himself 
unspotted from the world, and left to his 
descendants a character above reproach and 
a reputation for probity and godliness 
which they prize as a priceless heritage. 



148 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Robert Donaldson was the father of five 
children, namely : James, Catherine, Wil- • 
Ham A., Jane and Samuel. 

William A. Donaldson, of this review, 
was a son b}' his father's first wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Ann Felton. He 
was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 19th of August, 1833, and 
at .he age of sixteen accompanied his par- 
ents to Indiana, growing to mature years 
in the county of Wells. Before leaving 
the home of his childhood he attended at in- 
tervals such schools as the community af- 
forded, but after coming to the new home in 
the wilderness his assistance was required 
in clearing and developing the farm, cc^n- 
sequently there was little time at his dis- 
posal to devote to educational discipline. 
He grew up strong of limb and lithe of 
body and while still a youth in his teens had 
become so inured to \-igorous exercise with 
the axe and other implements as to be able 
to do a man's work at all kinds of manual 
labor. 

]\Ir. Donaldson remained with his par- 
ents until 1855, on August 9 of which year 
he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza 
Karns and began farming upon his own 
responsibility. JNIrs. Donaldson is the 
daughter of Michael and Lucinda (Mann) 
Karns and was born in Ohio in the year 
1834. She was brought to Wells county as 
early as 1842 and grew to young woman- 
hood near Ossian, later moving to Bluffton. 
She was educated in the common schools 
and for one term prior to her marriage 
taught in the Blufifton school, earning the 
reputation of a capable and popular teacher. 

Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson set up their 
first domestic establishment on the Donald- 
son homestead and nothing occurred to dis- 



turb or mar the serenity of their lives until 
the approaching clouds of the great Civil 
war. When the struggle began, Mr. Don- 
aldson, with true patriotic fervor, laid aside 
the implements of husbandry and tendered 
his services to his country. Enlisting at 
Wabash on the 22nd day of August, 1862, 
in Company G, One Hundred and First In- 
diana Infantry, he proceeded to Indianapo- 
lis, thence to the front, his regiment joining 
the force under Rosecrans in time to take 
part in the celebrated pursuit of Bragg 
through Tennessee and Kentucky. His 
first engagement of any note was the bloixly 
battle at Perryville, where his command 
faced the enemy in the thickest of the fight, 
after which, by reason of sickness brought 
on by exposure and overexertion he was 
sent to the hospital for treatment. So com- 
pletely broken down was he that five months 
elapsed before he was able to rejoin his com- 
mand and no sooner had he done so than he 
was discharged as being entirely unfit for 
active service. Returning home in March, 
1863, Mr. Donaldson resumed farming, 
cheered by the delusive hope that a few 
months spent thus would so improve his 
health as to enable him again to join his 
regiment and assist in crushing the rebel- 
lion. To his great disappointment his ail- 
ment did not yield easily to treatment and 
he was obliged to forego the pleasure of 
participating in the final overthrow of the 
cause of the Confederacy. He has never 
entirely recovered from the disability con- 
tracted while in the service and still suffers 
therefrom, although able to look after his 
farm and manage successfully his various 
business interests. 

Mr. Donaldson continued agricultural 
pursuits with most gratifying result until 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



149 



October, 1S97, meantime purchasing the old 
family homestead of one hundred and twen- 
ty acres, of which he made one of the best 
farms in the county of Wells. As a farmer 
he easily ranked with the most enterprising 
and successful in the township of Lancaster, 
bringing his place to a high state of tillage 
and carrying on his labors by the most ap- 
proved methods of modern agriculture. 
By reason of advancing age and increasing 
infirmities he finally concluded to abandon 
active labor and spend the rest of his lif« in 
the enjoyment of the well earned fruits of 
many years of honest toil ; accordingly in 
the year 1897, he turned his place over to 
the care of others, purchased a comfortable 
home in BlufTton and since that time has 
been living in honorable retirement. 

Air. and Mrs. Donaldson have been 
blessed with eight children, the oldest of 
whom, William W., died in infancy ; Lucy, 
whose birth occurred on the nth of April, 
1858, died in the year 1880; Frank, born 
July I, i860, married Bessie Ward and is 
engaged in business in the state of Iowa; 
Luella, the ne.xt in order of birth, died when 
an infant; Samuel, born June 20, 1867, was 
one of the county's successful teachers and 
departed this life in November, 1887; Car- 
rie, born August 14, 1869. is the wife of 
Alexander Brickley and lives in Lancaster 
township on the old homestead; Jennie was 
born June 3, 1873, and died in January. 
1899; she was a graduate of the Ossian high 
school, a popular teacher and a young lady 
of refinement and varied culture; Lewis, 
born August 29, 1875, is now substituting 
on a rural mail route with a promise of a 
regular route to be established soon. Mr. 
Donaldson spared no pains in providing his 
children with the best educational advan- 



tages obtainable and they in turn profited 
by his efforts in their behalf. He has always 
been a friend of whatever tended to benefit 
the community, materially, intellectually 
and socially, and in matters religious, like 
his ancestors before him, he has adhered 
strictly to the Presbyterian creed, holding 
the responsible position of ruling elder in 
the congregation to which he now belongs. 
Wliile an ardent Republican and earnest in 
the expression of his opinions, he has never 
been an active partisan, much lesb an aspir- 
ant for public distinction or official honors. 
Fraternally he is a member of Lew Dailey 
Post No. 33, G. .\. R., and is now holding 
the office of junior vice commander in that 
organization, his wife being an active work- 
er in the Woman's Relief Corps. ^Iv. and 
Mrs. Donaldson are among the old and 
highh' respected citizens of Wells county, 
and have seen the county developed from a 
primitive condition to its present advanced 
state of prosperity and civilization. In nu- 
merous ways they have contributed to the 
many remarkable changes that have taken 
place within the last half century and now 
in the evening of life, after having borne the 
burden and heat of the day, they are passing 
toward the twilight and the journey's end, 
loved and revered by their children and hon- 
ored by a large circle of friends, all of whom 
wish the \-enerable couple many more years 
in which to bless the world with their pres- 
ence. 



J. W. BOCK. 



J. W. Bock was born May 19. 1861, 
near Sulphur Springs, Henry county, Indi- 
ana. He is a son of C. C. M. Bock, a na- 



[50 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



ti\'e of Henry count}', wlio was a son of 
Michael and IVLargaret Bock. C. C. M. Bock 
married Eliza E. Benbow, of Henry county, 
a daughter of Adam and Abigail Benbow, 
both natives of North Carolina. Eliza died 
April 8, 1898, in Jackson township, Wells 
county, Indiana, and C. C. M. Bock is now 
a resident of Marion, Indiana. He is the 
father of eleven children, of whom five are 
living: Jacob M., born November 16, 1859, 
is now a contractor in Sulphur Springs, 
Henry county, Indiana; J. W., born May 
19, 1861 ; Willie P., born January 28, 1863, 
died March 7, 1863 : David A., born Janu- 
ary 29, 1864. now a resident of Wells 
county; Lena A., born September g, 1866, 
the wife of James Dove, of Warren, Indi- 
ana; Morris N., born September 11, 
1869, died October 7, 1875, and Sarah 
A. and Margaret A., twins, born June 8, 
1872; Sarah A. died August 30. 1872, 
and Margaret died March 16, 1874; Carl, 
born July 5, 1874, a resident of Jack- 
son township. Wells county, Indiana ; 
Ralph was born January 2, 1877, and 
died March 10, 1880; Chrisella, born 
September 7, 1881, married H. C. Ry- 
bolt, now a resident of Warren, Indiana. 
C. C. M. Bock was a soldier of the Civil 
war. He was discharged one year after his 
enlistment on account of disability, but later 
re-enlisted for three years and was in serv- 
ice until the close of the war. 

J. W. Bock attended the district school 
in Jefferson township, Henry county, Indi- 
ana, until he was fourteen years old. He 
dien entered the New Castle graded school, 
which he attended for two years, finishing 
his school life at the age of sixteen years. 
He then went with his parents, by wagon, 
to Cloud county, Kansas, starting Septem- 



ber 15, 1877, and arriving at their destina- 
tion November 19, stopping on the way for 
three weeks, two of which were spent in St. 
Joseph, Missouri. J. W. remained in Kan- 
sas until December 23, 1879, his parents in 
the meantime having moved to St. Joseph, 
^Missouri. He was unable to go with them 
at the time of their removal on account of 
having a job of work on hand at the time 
for which he was to receive a hundred dol- 
lars for eight months' work. He considered 
this a good job, so remained and finished 
it, saving the money which he received for 
it. After his arrival at St. Joseph he re- 
turned with his parents to Henry county, In- 
diana. He remained in Henry county for 
two years, but was not satisfied, wishing to 
return to Kansas. In order to induce his 
parents to return to that state he went there 
again in 1882 and put out a crop of corn, 
also cultivating his uncle's corn in order to 
get the use of the team to attend to his own. 
Failing to induce his parents to come to him, 
he sold his corn crop, nine acres for sixty 
dollars, receiving twenty-five dollars of this 
amount at the time of sale and taking a 
mortgage on the buyer's three cows for the 
balance. Two days before he left the state 
the hot winds came and in two days more 
time the corn was burned up. He arrived 
at the home of his parents in Henry county, 
Indiana, again, in the fall of 1882. His 
father, having met with a serious accident 
while the family was living at St. Joseph, 
Missouri, was afterward more or less un- 
able to perform any labor. This being the 
case, after his return from Kansas with his 
parents in 1880, it fell to the lot of the sub- 
ject to help care for his father's family. He 
began working on the railroad, doing sec- 
tion work, but after three months, his health 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



failing, he had to give up that kind of labor. 
After his return from Kansas, in November, 
1882, he met with an accident and was not 
able to walk without the aid of crutches 
until the following March. He was un- 
able to do much work during the following 
summer and spent his time until the next 
spring as an apprentice in a harness shop 
at Sulphur Springs, Indiana. He then spent 
the spring and summer of 1884 working 
on a farm near Point Isabel, Grant county, 
Indiana. September 16, 1884, he came to 
Wells county, Indiana, and began working 
by the month for Oliver Jones and James 
Cloud. In the following year, July 8, 1885, 
he was married to Sarilda Hudson, a daugh- 
ter of Sarah Hudson, who had been reared 
by John Jones, the father of Oliver P. Jones 
and Elizabeth Cloud. After John's death | 
his property was inherited by Oliver Jones 
and James Cloud, the husband of Elizabeth. 
These two families had lived together and 
with them Sarah Hudson and her daughter 
Sarilda also lived until the latter grew to 
W'Omanhood and married the subject of this 
sketch. After his marriage Mr. Bock and 
wife lived in the same house with the fam- 
ilies of Oliver B. Jones and James Cloud, 
making three families under the same roof. 
He worked by the month for three years and 
then began to receive a share of the crops 
for his labor, continuing in this way until 
the spring of igoi, when Oliver Jones and 
Elizabeth Cloud removed to Warren, In- 
diana, James Cloud having died on xA.pril 
19, 1900. Since that time Mr. Bock has 
had full control of the farm of three hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land and gives his 
special attention to Mr. Jones' family. 

The families of Jones and Cloud were 
among the first settlers of Jackson town- 
ship, \\'ells county, Indiana. This land was 



purchased by John Jones and at his death it 
passed into the hands of his son Oliver, the 
title yet remaining vested in their names. 
Their doors were always open to the poor 
and they never turned a stranger away who 
sought either food or shelter. Among the 
most remarkable instances of the interest 
which they took in the welfare of the poor 
and unfortunate was in the taking of or- 
phan children into their homes, caring for 
and rearing them until they were able to 
provide for themselves. The number of 
those whom they thus fostered, educated 
and cared for was about sixteen and they all 
learned to look upon them as kind and gen- 
erous benefactors. They treated these waifs 
as kindly as if they had been their own chil- 
dren and those who survive remember them 
as tenderly as if they had been their own par- 
ents. The subject has been on the same 
farm for seventeen years; he is a general 
stock farmer, preferring shorthorn cattle, 
but breeds good stock of all classes. He is 
the father of four children : Leona May, 
born May 30, 1886, is at home with her par- 
ents; Milton T., born August 11, 1888; 
Ward v.. born November 6, 1893; Eliza 
E., born May 16, 1897. Both he and wife 
are members of the Christian church, with 
which they became connected December 17, 
1886. He was chosen an elder in July, 1889, 
and served in that capacity until the dis- 
banding of the congregation on account of 
the dangerous condition of the church. The 
building was sold and the congregation in- 
tended to build another, but have not yet 
done so. The organization went down in 
1894. after Mr. Bock had served eight years 
as an elder. He is also a member of Lodge 
No. 684, I. O. O. F., of lit Zion, Indiana, 
and No. 167, Encampment, of Warren, In- 
diana. He was elected assessor of Jackson 



152 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



township. W'ells county. Indiana, by the 
Democratic party in tlie fall of 1892 and be- 
gan the active work of the office in the 
spring of 1894, retaining the office six years. 
He is now a member of the advisory board 
of his township: has always affiliated with 
the Democratic party, works some during 
campaigns and has represented his party as 
a delegate in various political conventions. 
J. W. Bock was born amid the excitement 
that attended the opening days of the Civil 
Avar, and is the son of a veteran, one of the 
grand army to which, as the passing years 
shed the glamour which dignifies and glori- 
fies historic events, rising generations will 
feel under greater and more lasting obliga- 
tions. He is of that class of ambitious 
Americans whose aspirations in youth in- 
spired him with the desire to identify him- 
self with the boundless opportunities of the 
wide spreading prairie lands of the west, 
and after making two trips to that country, 
worked one season and another farmed on 
his own account; he returned to his home 
in- Indiana with filial solicitude, to aid in 
taking care of his father, who had met with 
an accident previously, and of the family 
who needed his assistance. Thus he was 
prevented from realizing his ambitions ful- 
ly, perhaps, but he has the consciousness 
of having performed his duty, which he has 
ever done in all the relations of life as a 
citizen, neighbor and friend. 



s. T- ration: 



Samuel J. Batson, who was born Octo- 
ber 17, 1830, in Henry county, Indiana, is 
a son of Nathaniel Batson. born in Ohio, 



February 24, 1808. He was a son of 
Samuel Batson, a native of New Jersey and 
of Welsh descent. The maternal parent of 
the subject and wife of Nathaniel Batson 
was Nancy (Ralston) Batson, born in the 
state of Kentucky, January 9, 18 12. She was 
the daughter of James Ralston and came 
with her parents to Wayne county, Indiana. 
She grew to womanhood in Henry county, 
Indiana, where she met and married 
Nathaniel Batson, who had come to Henry 
county with his parents when he was fifteen 
years old, about the year 1823. 

Nathaniel Batson, after his marriage, 
settled in Henry county and engaged in 
farming there until the spring of 1837, 
when they removed to Wells county, Indi- 
ana, and there entered four hundred and 
sixty-two acres of land in section 11, Jack- 
son township. This land was in the woods, 
the nearest neighbor being distant one mile 
and the next nearest two miles away. 
Nathaniel and Nancy Batson spent the re- 
mainder of their lives in Wells county, 
where they both died, Nathaniel in 1878 and 
Nancy in 188 1. They were the parents of 
twelve children: Samuel J., the subject; 
Lavina, deceased : Esther, deceased ; Na- 
thaniel died in infancy : Andrew Jackson 
died in infancy: William died in Oklahoma; 
Mary, deceased ; Martin, now a resident of 
Bluffton, Indiana: Eliza Jane, the wife of 
Henry Roush, now living near ]\It. Zion, 
Indiana: Sarah, deceased; John, and 
Nancy, the wife of Andrew Gephart. 

The subject was schooled in the sub- 
scription schools in Jackson township, the 
present admirable common school sj'stem 
not- having been developed at that time in 
the locality. The sessions of the school 
where the subject attended were held in an 




MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL BATSON. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



'53 



old log cabin with greased paper for window 
lights, slab seats and puncheon flooring. 
Samuel attended his last term of school 
when he was about nineteen years of age. 
He then remained at home with his father 
until his marriage. He was married Jan- 
uary 15. 1852, to Catherine Hufifman, born 
December 11, 1832. Her parents, Henry 
and Elizabeth (Eversole) Huffman, were 
natives of Clark county, Ohio, but settled 
later in Jackson township. Wells county, 
Indiana. Elizabeth died in Ohio and Henry 
in Wells county, Indiana. Henry was twice 
married, his second wife being Catherine 
Baker. To his first union four children were 
born, all of whom are yet living : Jacob, a 
resident of Huntington county, Indiana; 
Catherine, the wife of the subject; Sarah, 
the wife of Isaac Jones, and Peter, a resident 
of Ohio. To his second union ten children 
were born : Frederick, Mary S.. deceased, 
George. Samuel, Eveh-n, Levi. John, Lydia, 
Eliza and Henry. After his marriage 
the subject settled on the farm and in the 
same house in which he now lives ; he and 
his father hewed out the logs of which it is 
built. The house has had three roofs since 
it was built, the father shaving the shingles 
for the first, and the subject those for the 
second roofing, but he had to buy the ma- 
terial for the third and last covering, which 
is still in good condition. 

When the wife of the subject was a girl 
she was an adept in the accomplishments 
of weaving, .spinning, etc.. which were com- 
mon housewifely occupations in those days, 
when they made all their own clothing. She 
yet retains a spinning wheel which belonged 
to an aunt. The subject cleared up the land 
on which he now lives. .\s he says, he had 
to "dig it out." He is the father of nine 



children, seven of whom are yet living: 
Nathaniel, born August 9. 1853, married 
Mary Wyley September 28, 1882, and is the 
father of three boys. Firman, an oil pumper, 
Aubreye and Oris : Sarah, the second child, 
was born August i. 1855, and is now the 
wife of Henry Swaim : she was first married 
to William Smithson, to which union five 
children w^ere born, William E., Franklin, 
Lloyd, Clinton and Edith; to her second 
marriage two children have been born, Alva 
and Orval Swaim; the third child of the 
subject, Henry, was born December 27. 
1857, married Sarah J. Sills, and they are 
the parents of three children, Dessa, Letha 
and Mary T. ; the fifth child, Nancy C, was 
born February 26, 1862, is the wife of 
Henry King and has one son, Frank ; Mary 
E. was born July 8, i860, and is the wife 
of A. J. Faust, a resident of Nottingham 
township. Wells county, and has three chil- 
dren, Ada May, Clara B. and Catharine; 
Ella M., born July 6, 1864, is the wife of 
Homer Knott, of Hartford City, Indiana, and 
they have two children, Winona and Inez ; 
Elnora. born July 21, 1867, was the wife 
of John Click, but died August 10, 1893. 
leaving one child, Orta; Laura A., born 
April 3. 1874, wife of Lawson J. Beavans, 
has four children, Leha, Fay, Jesse and 
James H. ; Clara Belle, born October 3. 
1876. died August 28, 1891. 

Mr. Batson has been a general stock 
farmer. He is in the oil field and has on 
his farm six producing wells, making seven 
inches (tank measure) a day, which yields 
him a profit of fifteen or twenty dollars per 
month. He has devoted his whole life to 
farming, occasionally helping to run a 
threshing machine in the fall of the year. 
Mr. Batson now owns fortv acres of land 



[54 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



on which he hves. He and his wife are 
both connected with tlie CampbelHte (or 
Christian) church, of which they are con- 
sistent members. Politically the subject has 
always acted and voted with the Democratic 
party. He is of a class which is rapidly 
passing away and has witnessed all the 
stages of development of his locality from 
a comparative wilderness to its present 
highly improved and well cultivated condi- 
tion. He has seen the evolution in temples 
of learning from the log cabin with pun- 
cheon floors and greased paper window 
lights, and subscription schools, to the pala- 
tial buildings now devoted to the uses of the 
common schools of the country, and in all 
the multitudinous and laborious changes that 
have transformed the face of nature he has 
well borne his part. In the course of nature 
it will not be many years until the last of 
these hardy pioneers will be gathered to their 
fathers. While it is scarcely possible for the 
present generation to realize what they have 
passed, the greatest compliment they can pay 
to their memory is to emulate their example. 



I. K. CLARK. 



I. K. Clark was born in Maryland or 
Virginia about the year 1839. His father, 
Matthew J. Clark, was a native of Virginia 
and his mother, Fannie O'Terrel, of the 
state of Maryland, and were married and 
settled in Virginia in an early day. Mat- 
thew in his earlier days was a merchant or 
store keeper, but the latter part of his life 
he spent in the vocation of farming in the 
state of Virginia. He remained in that 
state until his death, his wife dying in But- 
ler countv, Pennsvlvania. He was twice 



married and had by his first wife five chil- 
dren, John G., ^^'illiam, Elizabeth, Cath- 
erine and James, all of whom are deceased. 
By his second marriage he was also the 
father of five children, three of whom are 
still alive: Frances, deceased, Avas the wife 
of Thomas Jacobs; Matthew J., Jr., is now 
a resident of Marietta, Ohio; M. G. was a 
resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, but 
now of Warren, Indiana; I. K., the subject, 
and Clemit, deceased. During the Civil war 
the southern army entered and ransacked 
Matthew Clark's house, destroying every- 
thing, including records, etc., he being ab- 
sent at the time as a soldier in the Federal 
army. 

I. K. Clark obtained his schooling in the 
state of Virginia by attending the subscrip- 
tion schools. He attended his last term of 
school when he was about twelve j'ears old 
and when he was thirteen years of age he 
began to do and care for himself by work- 
ing by the month. He continued to work in 
this Avay until his marriage, April 11, 1880, 
to Minerva Russell, a daughter of Robert 
and Elizabeth (Lyon) Russell, the father a 
native of Pennsylvania and his wife of 
Ohio. Mrs. Clark came to Wells county 
with her parents in an early day (about 
1843). Neither of her parents are now liv- 
ing, both having died in Wells county. The 
subject came to Delaware county, Indiana, 
about 1867, having a sister residing there. 
He began working by the month and was 
there for about two years. His sister, who 
had a tract of wild land in Liberty township, 
Wells county, made a proposition to him for 
the clearing of this land, which he accepted 
and came to Wells county and began work- 
ing by the day, and at odd spells on this 
clearing. After a few years he purchased 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



t55 



forty acres of land of a Mr. Smith, which 
he also cleared up. He then purchased an 
additional forty, which he cleared, thus pos- 
sessing an improved farm of eighty acres 
in one body. He then purchased forty acres 
more, which he partially cleared, having 
then a hundred and twenty acres of fine 
land in Liberty township. Wells county, se- 
cured by the labor of his own hands. He 
continued his work, boarding at different 
times with John J. Kingon, James Davis, 
George \Vhite and Thomas Jacobs. Hav- 
ing gone in debt on his land, in order to 
make better wages he spent the harvest and 
corn-husking seasons in Delaware county, 
carrying his wheat cradle on his shoulder 
from A\"ells county to his field of labor, 
where he received twenty-five cents extra 
on the day's labor. At one time on his way 
across the country he had to stop over 
night. Telling his host he was looking for 
work, the farmer kept him over night with- 
out charge, but not wishing to impose upon 
the hospitality of his entertainer, the subject 
shouldered his cradle and proceeded break- 
fastless on his way. After traveling a couple 
of miles he came upon an old man and a boy 
who were just beginning to reap a field of 
ten acres of wheat. Entering the field, the 
subject inquired of the owner if he wanted 
a hand to help harvest his wheat. Being 
answered in the affirmative, a bargain was 
struck for putting the field of wheat in the 
swath for the sum of ten dollars. So anx- 
ious was the subject to complete his task 
that without mentioning the subject of 
breakfast, he set down his carpet sack and 
begun work, awaiting the regular noon 
hour for something to eat. He continued 
his work until the field of wheat was in the 
swath, received his pay and pursued his 



way. This incident is a striking example 
of the habits of industry, economy and 
sturdy independence that have character- 
ized his whole life. He found more work 
in the same settlement, and remained 
through the harvest, threshing and corn 
cutting seasons as well, and finally when 
cold weather came on he employed himself 
in "grubbing" and did not leave Delaware 
county until he had earned one hundred and 
fifty dollars, which he applied in payment 
on purchase of his first forty acres of land. 
At one time Mr. Clark asked a Mr. Smith 
what he would take for a certain forty-acre 
tract of land, and he replied seven hundred 
dollars. How much down, was the next in- 
quiry of the subject, who was desirous of 
adding to his vested possessions. "Oh," 
was the reply, "enough to pay the delin- 
quent taxes, about fifteen dollars, and the 
balance on the 15th of the following De- 
cember." Having fifteen dollars due him 
for a month's work for a man in Delaware 
county, the subject was thus able to make 
the first payment and accepted Smith's prop- 
osition, the deeds being drawn by Mr. 
Daily anlj the first payment of fifteen dollars 
duly paid in hand. Mr. Clark then went 
to Delaware county and borrowed the re- 
mainder of the money necessary to complete 
the purchase at ten per cent, and when the 
stipulated 15th of December came around 
he met his obligation by the payment of the 
balance of the purchase price, six hundred 
and eighty-five dollars. This transaction 
shows the comparative values put on land 
at that time with the present, and it also 
shows the tenacity of purpose and prompt 
and sagacious action of the subject in secur- 
ing that most valuable of assets in a new 
and growing county, well located and pro- 



iS6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



ductive real estate. In 1880 Mr. Clark 
married and settled on the farm where he 
now lives in Jackson township and has been 
here ever since. He has devoted his entire 
life to the vocation of farming and allied 
interests. He has been a general stock 
farmer, breeding and handling hogs, cattle 
and sheep. In the line of hogs, he prefers 
the Chester White and Poland China va- 
rieties, while in cattle and sheep, "the short- 
horn and Shropshires respectively engage 
his fancy. He started in life without a 
dollar and is now the owner of three hun- 
dred and thirty-two acres of farm land and 
also two city lots in Muncie, Indiana. There 
are seventeen productive oil wells on his 
land, which at one time yielded him a profit 
of one hundred dollars a month. 

Mr. Clark raised an orphan child from 
about eighteen months of age, who is now 
twenty-one years of age and a member of 
his family. Her name is Alice Carman, a 
bright young lady, and Mr. and Mrs. Clark 
think as much of her as their own child. 

Politically the subject affiliates with the 
Republican party. The father of Mrs. Clark, 
Robert Russell, was born January 25, 1803, 
and died April 15, 1875. and her maternal 
parent, Elizabeth Russell, was born August 
24, 1802, and died in September, 1882. The 
subject is an exemplar of the possibilities of 
our form of government, in which, however 
unfavorable may be the environments sur- 
rounding the actor in the labors of life, a 
determined purpose, with success the 
goal, coupled with habits of industry and 
thrift, is sure in the end to lead to compe- 
tency and public esteem. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clark have in their posses- 
sion several valuable and curious relics of 
former days. Among them is a copper tea 



kettle, in a good state of preservation, which 
is over three centuries old. They also have 
an old bread toaster, a century old, a pair 
of snuffers, a pair of andirons, and a double 
coverlet woven by the grandmother of Mrs. 
Clark. Another quaint article of furniture 
in their home is an old "grandfather's," or 
Longfellew, clock, seven feet tall and 
eighty-five years old, and which still keeps 
accurate time. 



GEORGE W. KIMBLE. 

The gentleman whose brief biography 
is herewith presented has achieved success 
in various walks of civil life and at a criti- 
cal period in our national history, when the 
ship of state was almost stranded upon the 
rugged rock of disunion, proved his loyalty 
to his country by following the flag into the 
southland. The Kimble family had its 
origin in Holland, but for three or four gen- 
erations has been represented in various 
parts of the United States. From the most 
authentic sources, it appears that the progen- 
itor of the American branch settled in New 
Jersey in an early day, in which state at a 
subsequent period was born the grandfather 
of the subject of this sketch. Some time 
after his marriage this ancestor moved to 
Ohio, where he died in Perry county a num- 
ber of years ago. Among his children was 
a son by the name of Uzal Kimble, who 
grew to maturity in the above county and 
there married Rachel McDaniel. Of this 
union were born four children, namely : Isa- 
bel, wife of John Harris ; George W., of this 
review ; Margaret, now Mrs. Thomas Shull, 
and William E., who married Rachel 
Brown, of Darke countv, Ohio. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'\NA. 



^57 



L'zal Kimble remained in his native 
state until 1850. when he disposed of his in- 
terests there and changed his residence to 
Wells county, Indiana, purchasing a farm 
in the township of Nottingham where he 
spent the remainder of his days. When a 
young man he united with the Christian 
church and later became an acceptable min- 
ister of that body, though seldom sustaining 
regtilar pastoral relations. He was a man 
of sincere convictions, an earnest and de- 
vout Christian and exercised a wholesome 
influence in the community by his upright 
conduct and correct deportment, as well as 
by the exercise of his public duties as an able 
preacher of the word. 

George W. Kimble, the direct subject of 
this article, was born on the 14th day of 
August, 1845. i" Athens county, Ohio, and 
until his seventeenth year assisted his father 
with the varied duties of the farm. His edu- 
cational training was acquired in a little log 
school house near the home of his child- 
hood and at the age of seventeen he left the 
farm for the purpose of learning the trade 
of blacksmithing. In due time he became 
an efficient mechanic, but shortly after be- 
ginning the work for himself President 
Lincoln issued his call for volunteers to as- 
sist in crushing the great Rebellion. Like 
thousands of other loyal sons of the north, 
young Kimble tendered his services to the 
government, enlisting in Company G, One 
Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana In- 
fantry, with which he shared the vicissitudes 
of war from 1864 until his regiment was 
mustered out of service. After his discharge 
he resumed blacksmithing in Wells county 
and continued working at the trade at va- 
rious places until 188 1. meanwhile devoting 
all of his leisure time to the study of law. 



for which he early manifested a very de- 
cided preference. The better to prepare him- 
self for the practice of the profession, he 
entered, the above year, the law department 
of the Northern Indiana Normal University 
at Valparaiso, where he prosecuted his legal 
studies for a period of two years, graduating 
in 1883 with the degree of LL. B. The 
same year in which he completed his course 
at the above institution, Mr. Kimble opened 
an office in Blufifton, where he has since been 
actively engaged in the practice, giving es- 
pecial attention to collections. He is well 
versed in the underlying principles of juris- 
prudence, has earned the reputation of a 
sound and discreet counsellor and occupies 
a prominent position among his professional 
brethren of the Blufifton bar. Politically Mr. 
Kimble is one of the leading Republicans of 
Wells count}' and is always ready to do his 
share in promoting the success of his party 
in local, state and national elections. He 
was for three years justice of the peace in 
the township of Nottingham, aside from 
which he has held no official position nor 
has any ambition to gratify in that direc- 
tion. Fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 
145, F. & A. M., and to his credit be it said 
that he has tried to square his life in har- 
mony with the sublime principles of that 
order. 

In the year 1870 Air. Kimble was hap- 
pily married to Miss Lydia M. Goodin, 
daughter of Rev. Smith Goodin, formerly 
superintendent of the Wells county public 
schools. Mrs. Kimble was born in Ohio, 
but came to Indiana when young and grew 
to mature years in the county in which she 
was married. She received an excellent 
education, was a lady of varied culture and 
for a number of years enjoyed the reputa- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tion of being one of the most capable and 
popular teachers in the county of Wells. 
She taught in the schools of Bluffton for 
six years and was engaged in educational 
work up to the time of her marriage. 
After a happy wedded life of twenty-two 
years duration, Mr. Kimble's home was in- 
vaded by the angel of death who, on the 
30th day of March, 1892, summoned the 
faithful and loving wife to her final rest. 
She was a devoted Christian, a member of 
the Baptist church and died in the faith 
which had afforded her so much consolation 
and solace during her life. 

As a citizen Mr. Kimble stands high in 
the esteem of the people of his city and all 
cheerfully concede his right to be called one 
of Wells county's representative men. Quiet 
and unassuming in manner and easily ap- 
proachable, he belongs to that large and emi- 
nently respectable class of people that make 
their presence felt by actions rather than by 
words, and in every relation of life his con- 
duct has been characteristic of the intelli- 
gent, enterprising man of affairs and true 
gentleman. 



PETER BRICKLEY, 



The subject of this sketch is among the 
oldest living settlers of Wells county, his 
residence of over a half a century covering 
the most important period in the history of 
this part of the state. He is a native of Ohio 
and the son of George and Belinda (Wolfe- 
call) Brickley, both parents born in Penn- 
sylvania and descendants of old pioneer 
families of that commonwealth. In an early 
day George Brickley moved to Ohio, where 
he lived a number of years, subsequently 



selling his possessions there and migrating 
to Wells county, Indiana, where he pur- 
chased a partially improved farm which he 
made his home for a considerable period. 
This place is situated in the township of 
Rock Creek and is now one of the oldest 
and best farms in that section of the coun- 
try. Late in life Mr. Brickley changed his 
residence to a farm a short distance south of 
Markle and it was there that he spent the 
remainder of his days, dying at a good old 
age, honored and respected by the people 
of his own and other communities. He is 
remembered as a man of enterprise and un- 
tiring energy, progressive in his ideas and 
successful in the accumulation of land and 
other property. Of his family of eleven 
children the following are still living in the 
county of Wells : Peter, Alfred. Lewis, 
Nancy Jane, Ogden and Laura. 

Peter is the second in order of birth and 
first saw the light of day at Lordstown, 
Ohio, August I, 1832. He was reared in 
his native state, received such educational 
discipline as the indifferent subscription 
schools of those times could impart and, 
while still a mere lad, was obliged to assist 
his father with the varied labors of the farm. 
He was early taught lessons of industry and 
economy and grew to manhood strong and 
healthy in body and with a fixed purpose 
of making the most of such opportunities 
as came his way. He remained on the home 
place until his twenty-second year and then 
began life's struggle for himself, choosing 
the time honored vocation of an agriculturist 
as the pursuit most suited to his tastes and 
inclinations. Mr. Brickley lived in Ohio un- 
til 185 1, after which he removed to Wells 
county with his parents, August 24, 1854. 
Mr. Bricklev married Mary Ann Smith, of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



159 



Rock Creek township. At this time he was 
given a farm of sixty acres by his father 
which he afterwards sold and with the pro- 
ceeds purchased a farm in Lancaster town- 
ship. Addressing himself to the task of im- 
proving his land, he was rewarded in due 
time with a finely developed farm, to which 
additions were made at intervals when fa- 
vorable opportunities presented themselves. 
Mr. Brickley's career in Wells county 
was signally successful from the beginning. 
He continued to increase his holdings until 
his real estate amounted to three hundred 
and twenty-five acres, all admirably situ- 
ated for agricultural purposes, and with the 
passing years and corresponding growth of 
the county these lands advanced in value un- 
til they now represent a fortune of no small 
magnitude. As a farmer he was enterpris- 
ing in all the term implies and soon earned 
the reputation of one of the county's most 
successful and progressive agriculturists. 
In addition to tilling the soil he added much 
to his capital by buying and shipping live 
stock, also made considerable money raising 
cattle of his own, a business in which his 
success was most encouraging. He has al- 
ways been a far-sighted business man and 
everything in which he engages seems to 
prosper. After acquiring a sufficiency of 
this world's goods to make him independ- 
ent, Mr. Brickley, in 1896, left the farm and 
moved to Blufifton where he has since lived 
in honorable retirement. Blessed with an 
abundance of everything calculated to min- 
ister to his material comfort, he is now pass- 
ing his declining years in the midst of 
friends and companions cheered by the 
thought that his competence was accumu- 
lated by honorable means and that his 
friendships were won by conduct above re- 
proach. 



Mr. Brickley was early led to take an 
active interest in political matters and ever 
since old enough to vote he has been an earn- 
est and uncompromising supporter of the 
Democratic party. He never missed an elec- 
tion when able to go to the polls and his 
activity and leadership have contributed 
much to the strength and success of Demo- 
cratic principles in Wells county during the 
fifty-two years of his residence therein. 
Early in the '70s he was elected justice of 
the peace of his township and continued to 
hold the office by successive elections until 
positively declining longer to serve, having 
held the position for a period of eight years. 
In 1890 he was nominated and elected a 
member of the board of county commission- 
ers, the most important office within the gift 
of the people, and discharged the duties in- 
cident thereto for six years, having been 
chosen his own successor in 1894. It was 
during Mr. Brickley's incumbency as a 
member of the commissioner's court that 
many of the most important public improve- 
ments were inaugurated and carried to suc- 
cessful completion. Among these were the 
purchase of one hundred and twenty acres 
for a county farm, and the erection of the 
necessary buildings thereon, the construc- 
tion of two large bridges across the Wabash, 
besides a general improvement of the public 
highways and other work of much import- 
ance to the people. Mr. Brickley's record as 
a public servant proved eminently satisfac- 
tory to the people, as well as affording him 
inward consciousness of having well and 
faithfully performed his duty. His judg- 
ment with respect to public matters was sel- 
dom if ever at fault, and his county is largely 
indebted to him for much of the prosperity 
which it now shares with its sister counties 
of the state. 



r6o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Personally Mr. Brickley is a quiet and 
unassuming gentleman and his relations 
with his fellow citizens have always been 
of the most pleasant and agreeable character. 
He is not much given to speech making, but 
makes his presence felt by his actions, which 
have always been correct, and by his influ- 
ence, which has ever been on the right side 
of all great moral questions and issues. Hi: 
popularity with all classes of people is only 
bounded by the limits beyond which his 
name is not known and it is a compliment 
nobly earned and fittingly bestowed to class 
him with the best and most enterprising of 
the county's representative citizens. 

In the year 1900 Mr. Brickley suffered 
a sad bereavement in the death of his faith- 
ful and devoted wife, since which time he 
has made his home with a daughter living 
in Blufifton. Mrs. Brickley was a lady of 
beautiful moral character, a sincere mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian church and, with a 
Christian's faith to cheer her, she entered 
into rest on April 19 of the above year. She 
bore her husband twelve children, namely : 
Andrew J., for a number of years one of the 
county's successful teachers ; James ; Louisa 
M. ; Mary C. ; John Z., formerly a teacher 
in the public schools; Elzy M., Cora J.. 
Maggie, Frank, Arlie A. and Artha, all 
married except Artha and Maggie. 



JOHN W. BEAVANS. 

This young and thriving farmer of Jack- 
son township. Wells county, Indiana, was 
born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 27, 
1862. Plis father, James Beavans, was born 
in Monmouthshire, England, November 12, 
1828. He remained in his native countrv 



until about thirty years of age, when, on the 
30th of April, 1859, he was united in mar- 
riage to Anne Williams, who was also a 
native of Monmouthshire. Soon after his 
marriage James Beavans came to the United 
States, landing at Portsmouth, Virginia, 
November 10, 1859, and soon afterward 
located in Clinton county, Ohio. In the fall 
of 1864 he removed to Blackford county, 
Indiana, remaining there until 1870, when 
he came to Jackson county, Indiana, and lo- 
cated first on a rented farm, from whence 
he subsequently removed to his late home in 
the same township. There, b}' industry and 
economy, he made for himself and family a 
home of comfort and plenty. He had in 
former years met with many reverses, which 
were very discouraging, but instead of 
yielding to their influences, it only awakened 
in him a determination to take a stronger 
hold upon the great possibilities of life. He 
was honest and upright with his fellow men ; 
his word was as good as his bond; he was 
a good neighbor, honored and respected by 
all who knew him. He united with the 
Methodist church in 1885 and remained a 
consistent member until death. As a Chris- 
tian he was not a sun that flashed and burned 
in mighty energy, but as a star that shone 
steadily in its constancy. For several years 
before his death his health and strength 
gradually failed, and he passed into the silent 
land February i, 1899, aged seventy years, 
two months and eighteen days. 

To James and Anne (Williams) Beavans 
were born seven children, named in order 
of birth as follows: Francis, now deceased; 
John W., in whose interest principally this 
l)iography is prepared; William E., at home 
with his mother; Horace A., deceased; 
David E., residing in Warren, Indiana; 




i Jyi-Ct^t^^ ■ (^ - Uj-^<:>c^'7/^cx^^y^- 




pi^.a^^ 



CcAy-CLyt'<>& 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Lawson J., farming in Jackson township, 
and Mary M., wife of B. F. McCoy, a resi- 
dent of Jefferson township, Huntington 
county, Indiana. 

John W. Beavans attended the district 
schools of Jackson township until about 
twenty-one years of age, and continued to 
assist on the home farm until he married, 
March 6, 1886, Miss Mary E. Alexander, 
who was born March 7, 1865, and is a 
daughter of Robert and Mary Jane (Jones) 
Alexander, natives of Ohio, but who were 
brought to Indiana when young by their 
parents. 

Robert and Mary Jane Alexander were 
the parents of nine children, namely : Rhoda 
Adeline, deceased; Susan; John T., a resi- 
dent of Salmonie township, Huntington 
county; Enoch, farming in Jackson town- 
ship. Wells county; William R., a resident 
of Jefferson township, Huntington county; 
Sarah, wife of Edward Fornshell ; Mary E., 
now Mrs. J. W. Beavans; Daniel, deceased, 
and an infant also deceased. 

When John W. Beavans started in life 
for himself his father assisted in buying him 
a team of colts and John W. himself bor- 
rowed one hundred dollars with which to 
purchase furniture. He located on a part 
of his father's farm, where he resided about 
a year and then moved to a log cabin al- 
ready standing on the farm he now occupies 
and here built his modern dwelling in 1894 
and his substantial barn in 1901, and now 
owns one hundred and five acres of arable 
land and also twelve producing oil wells 
which in 1901 netted him a little over one 
hundred dollars per month ; but the supply is 
gradually diminishing and the income from 
these wells is now about seventy dollars 
monthly. His farming is of a general 



character, but he gives a great deal of atten- 
tion to live stock, making specialties of 
shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Po- 
land China hogs, in the breeding of all of 
which he has been remarkably successful. 

The marriage of John W. Beavans and 
Mary E. Alexander has been crowned by the 
birth of five children, namely : A daughter 
who was born March 2.2, 1887, and died un- 
named in infancy; Lawrence L., born Feb- 
ruary 26, 1889; Frederick E., born Septem- 
ber 9, 1894; Mabel M., born September 9, 
1896, and Nora E., born February i. 1902. 

Mrs. Beavans is a member of the Meth- 
odist Protestant church and Mr. Beavans 
affiliates with the Jackson Center Lodge No. 
769, I. O. O. F., at McNatts. In politics 
Mr. Beavans is a Democrat, but is not par- 
ticularly active save during the campaign 
season, when he warms up to his work as a 
party man. The Beavans family are held in 
very high esteem by their neighbors, Mrs. 
Beavans being a lady of many amiable 
domestic qualities and Mr. Beavans being 
recognized as one of the most upright as 
well as industrious young farmers in the 
township. 

As being- of special interest in connec- 
tion with the foregoing sketch, the follow- 
ing obituary notices are here reprinted : 

Anna, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wil- 
liams, was born in Monmouthshire county. Eng- 
land, October 7. 1834. Departed this life July 18, 
3 902. Was united in marriage to James Beavans 
April 30. 1859. To this union were born seven 
children, five of whom survive her, four sons and 
one daughter, her husband, one son and a daughter 
having preceded her to the glory land. She leaves 
two brothers, eleven grandchildren and a number 
of other relatives and friends. She united with 
the Church of England while in youth. She, with 
her husband, came to this country November 10, 
1859, landing at Portsmouth, Virginia. They set- 



(62 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tied in Clinton county, Ohio, the same year, re- 
moving to Blackford county, Indiana, in the fall 
of 1864; removed to Jackson township, Wells 
county, Indiana, in 1870; March 17. removed to 
where she lived at the time of her death. She 
united with the Methodist Protestant church at 
Union Chapel in 1S84 and remained a faithful 
member until her death. She was a kind and de- 
voted Christian mother and by her deeds of kind- 
ness she had won a great many friends and will be 
missed by the church and community in which 
she lived. The home circle is once more broken. 
Mother is gone, but not forgotten. In her declin- 
ing years the burden of her conversation was, "We 
cannot do too much for the Lord." She was aged 
sixty-seven years, nine months and eleven days. 
The funeral was conducted by her pastor. Rev. 
J. L. Barclay, at Union Chapel, before a large and 
sympathetic audience. Interment took place at 
Woodlawn cemetery, Warren, Indiana. 

Robert Alexander, son of John and Rhoda Alex- 
ander, was born in Brown county, Ohio, October 
23, 1822: died March 24, 1897, aged seventy-four 
years, five months and one day. He moved with 
his parents from Ohio to Warren, Indiana, in 1841. 
He was married to Mary J. Jones in 1846, and to 
this union were born nine children. The wife, two 
sons and a daughter preceded him. Father Alex- 
der was the oldest of six brothers and three sisters. 
He leaves three sons, three daughters, three broth- 
ers, a sister and a host of relatives and friends to 
mourn his departure. He united with the Meth- 
odist Protestant church about thirty years ago 
and lived a true Christian life. He will be sadly 
missed in church, for as long as he was able his 
seat was seldom vacant. The funeral was held 
at Union Chapel, conducted by Rev. Tharp, assisted 
by Rev. Bundy. The text was, "Be ye faithful unto 
death and I v,'ill give you a crown of life." — Rev. 
2:10. Faithfulness comes with charity, hope and 
love. The concourse of friends showed their last 
tribute of respect by being present at the funeral 
and interment in the Batson cemetery. 

Mary Jane Jones was born in Clinton county, 
Ohio, June 4, 1823, and departed this life Novem- 
ber 15, 1892, aged sixty-nine years, five months 
and eleven days. She came to Wells county, 
Indiana, in the year 1837. She was united in mar- 
riage to Robert Alexander January 8, 1846. Nine 
children blessed this union, five boys and four 
girls, three of whom — two boys and one girl — 



sleep in the city of the dead. Sister Alexander in 
early youth consecrated her life to God. At the 
age of nineteen years she joined the Methodist 
Episcopal church, where she remained a consistent 
member until 1846, when she united with the 
Methodist Protestant church, continuing a faithful 
member and an earnest Christian until death 
marked her his own and the God whom she loved 
to adore said: "Enter thou into the joys of thy 
Lord." Her sickness, though long and severe, 
was borne with patience. She was willing at all 
times to say, "Thy will, O God, not mine, be done." 
But she is gone. We will see her no more. She 
has left this world for the other shore. We will 
miss the work of her dear hands; we will miss 
her in the family band; we will see the paths she 
has trod, but It is a joy to think she rests with God. 
She leaves a husband three sons and three 
daughters to mourn her departure. Funeral ser- 
vices at Union Chapel, conducted by Rev. J. R. 
French; interment in the Batson cemetery. 



SOLOMON B. NELSON. 

Recurrences to the past, with the recol- 
lections and associations which cause it to 
pass in lifeHke review before our mental 
vision, will continue to be, as of yore, a 
source of satisfaction, especially when they 
connect themselves with facts and incidents 
reflected from our own experience. These 
reminders remain with the life of the partic- 
ipants when no landmarks remain to save 
us the pictures faintly delineated on the tab- 
lets of memory. To preserve from forget- 
fulness the leading facts in the lives of the 
pioneers and older citizens of our country 
is the work devolved upon the writers of 
this work. Biography fails in its mission 
when it fails to preserve these valuable facts 
committed to its care. More than any other 
form of history, it commands the most in- 
terested attention for the reason that it is 
largely a record of our own experiences as 
seen reflected from the careers of others 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



163 



who ha\e traveled the rugged pathway of 
Hfe as our companions, acquaintances and 
friends. In the Hfe of the gentleman whose 
name introduces this article the reader will 
find much that is interesting and instructive. 
An honored resident of Wells county for 
over a half century and a gallant soldier in 
one of the greatest wars of history, he has 
borne well his part in life and now, when the 
shadows have deepened, he looks back over 
his long and useful career, finding in the 
retrospect little to condemn and much to 
commend. Solomon B. Nelson is a native of 
Ohio and the son of James and Sarah 
(Beals) Nelson, both parents born in Penn- 
sylvania. James Nelson was taken to 
Wayne county, Ohio, when a small boy, and 
there grew to maturity and married. Short- 
ly after taking to himself a helpmeet he re- 
mo\-ed to the county of Stark, where he 
owned a farm, and for some years lived in 
that section of the state, engaging in agri- 
culture and blacksmithing. About 1844 he 
disposed of his place and moved his family 
to Adams county, Indiana, where he pur- 
chased a quarter section of timber land, 
thirty-five acres of which were cleared and 
reduced to cultivation during the five years 
that followed. In 1849 Mr. Nelson sold 
this place at a good figiu'e and came to Wells 
county, locating in the township of Lancas- 
ter, where he bought an eighty-acre farm on 
which the remainder of his life was spent. 
In connection with agriculture he worked 
at blacksmithing and by industry and suc- 
cessful management succeeded in acaimu- 
lating a sufficiency of this world's goods to 
place himself in comfortable circumstances. 
James Nelson was a man of excellent parts, 
honest and industrious and the emI)odiment 
of all that was honorable and upright in 



citizenship. For many years he served as 
class leader in the Methodist church and he 
always tried to measure his life according 
to the high standard of excellence as found 
in the life and teachings of the man of 
Nazareth. In politics he was a Democrat and 
as such was elected to various local offices, 
among which was that of township trustee. 
James and Sarah Nelson were the parents 
of twelve children, all but one reaching the 
years of maturity, four sons, Solomon B., 
William, Silas and Sanford P., serving their 
country faithfully during the great Rebell- 
ion. 

Solomon B. Nelson was born in Wayne 
county, Ohio, July 30, 1837. and was a lad 
of about eleven when his parents moved to 
the county of Wells. Aside from the daily 
routine of labor on the farm, varied of win- 
ter seasons by attending the common 
schools, his early life was marked by no 
striking incident or fact worthy of note. He 
grew up to the full requirement that man 
should earn his bread by honest toil and 
from his excellent parents learned those les- 
sons of duty and correct living which re- 
dounded so greatly to his advantage in after 
years. After completing the public school 
course he taught one term, but not caring 
to devote his attention exclusively to educa- 
tional work soon exchanged that calling for 
the vocation of farming. 

In April, i860, Mr. Nelson was united 
in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Clark, a na- 
tive of Ohio w^ho came to Wells county with 
her parents as early as the j'ear 1839. Her 
father, Allen Clark, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, was of Irish descent and her mother, 
who bore the maiden name of Florinda Mar- 
quis, was born and reared in Ohio. The 
childliood and vouthful vears of Mrs. Nel- 



[64 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



son were spent on the home farm in Lan- 
caster and after receiving a good common 
school education she taught for some time 
in the village of Eaglesville. Immediately 
following his marriage Mr. Nelson turned 
his attention to farming, but was not very 
long permitted to pursue that vocation un- 
disturbed. The President's call for volun- 
teers to crush the rebellion in tlie southern 
states so appealed to his patriotism that he 
at once tendered his services to his country 
in its time of need. In September, 1861, 
he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth 
Indiana Infantry, Captain William Swain, 
and after spending a short time at Ander- 
son, Indiana, proceeded to the front, meet- 
ing the enemy for the first time at New 
Madrid, Missouri. Subsequently the regi- 
ment was sent to Memphis. Tennessee, 
thence up White river to meet the force un- 
der General Curtis and later to Port Gib- 
son, on the Mississippi, where the subject 
took part in one of the hard fought battles 
of the war. Mr. Nelson shared with his 
comrades the vicissitudes and fortunes of 
war in a number of campaigns in different 
states and proved his bravery and loyalty 
under many trying circumstances. He par- 
ticipated in the bloody engagement at Cham- 
pion Hill. Mississippi, where his colonel 
was severely wounded, and some time there- 
after was obliged to take hospital treatment 
for disability brought on by exposure and 
over-exertion. At the expiration of his 
period of enlistment, December, 1863. he 
was discharged, but the following year re- 
enlisted and served until the close of the 
war, being mustered out the second time at 
New York City on the 26th of June, 1865. 
While in the service Mr. Nelson's eyes be- 
came seriously affected and at one time it 



was feared his sight would be lost. He has 
never recovered from this ailment, his 
vision being very greatly impaired at the 
present time, so much so in fact that it is 
impossible for him to perceive any but very 
large and distinct objects. For this mis- 
fortune he is partially reimbursed by a 
pension of seventy-two dollars per month, 
which, though quite liberal, by no means 
compensates him for the loss of vision. 
After the war Mr. Nelson took up his resi- 
dence at Eagleville, where he supported his 
family by various kinds of manual labor un- 
til his diminishing eyesight compelled him 
to retire from active life. When it became 
impossible for him to work, he moved to 
Bluffton and here he has resided since 1883, 
honored and respected by all who know him. 
He purchased a beautiful and comfortable 
home and, barring his disability, is well situ- 
ated to enjoy the many blessings of life by 
which he is surrounded. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have had five chil- 
dren, namely : Florence E., born January ■ 
16, 1861. died at the age of twenty months; 
Rachel E., born January 15. 1865, married 
J. Z. Brickley and departed this life some 
years ago; Marion F. was born September 
22, 1866, married Irene B. Cobbins and is 
now in the United States mail service, hav- 
ing charge of Rural Route No. 6; Martha 
J., born January i, 1869, died when seven 
vears old ; the youngest of the family, Allen 
C, whose birth occurred on the 6th day of 
May, 1878, is a compositor in the ofiice of 
the Bluffton Chronicle and News. 

Prior to the Rebellion Mr. Nelson was 
a Democrat, but after the war he joined the 
Republican party and has been one of its 
earnest supporters ever since, though not 
a partisaij in the sense the term is generally- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



165 



understood. He belongs to the Grand Army 
post at Bluffton and takes an active inter- 
est in all of its deliberations. His religious 
creed is represented by the Presbyterian 
church, of which body he has been an earn- 
est and consistent member for many 
vears ; Mrs. Nelson also belongs to the same 
denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are 
among the oldest and best known residents 
of Wells county and all who are favored 
with their acquaintance speak in the highest 
terms of their many sterling cjualities of 
head and heart. They have lived long and 
well, have done their duty without fear or 
favor and the future awaits them with 
abundant rewards. 



JOHN BAKER. 



John Baker, who was born October 1 1 , 
1845, '" Champaign county, Ohio, is a son 
of John and Susan (Hower) Baker, natives 
of Pennsylvania, who, when they were chil- 
dren, moved with their parents into Ohio, 
where they grew up and were married. 
John, Sr., was a cooper by trade and worked 
at that business until the end of his life, his 
death occurring in 1853 in Wells county. 
Indiana, on the farm where the subject now 
lives. 

The senior Baker and his family came to 
Wells county about the year 1850 and his 
wife died here in 1884. Mr. Baker was the 
father of eight children, six of whom are 
living : Sarah, the wife of Jacob Hufifman : 
Lydia, the wife of John Knott; Mary A., 
the wife of Andrew Bilbee ; Jacob, now a 
resident of Huntington county, Indiana ; 
John; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of 
Neriah Hunnicott; Martin, now residing in 



Chester township. Wells count}-. Indiana, 
and an infant, deceased. John, Jr., attended 
the public schools of Jackson township. 
Wells county, Indiana, until he was eigh- 
teen years of age. He then enlisted in the 
army, becoming a member of Company E, 
Seventy-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, 
December 6, 1863, and remained in the serv- 
ice of his country until the close of the war, 
being discharged therefrom in August, 
1865. He was with Sherman from Atlanta 
to the sea. engaging in all the battles of that 
memorable march. After his return from 
the army he began to work at the carpen- 
ter's trade and continued at the business for 
about twelve years, or two years after his 
marriage. He was married October 31, 
1848, in Wells county, Indiana, to a daugh- 
ter of Benjamin Hudson, a native of Mary- 
land, and Katie Ann Mullen, a native of 
Ohio. When Benjamin Hudson was a small 
boy his parents, Selby and Elizabeth Hud- 
son, came to Cincinnati, Ohio. Later on 
Selby removed his famil}' to Brown county, 
Ohio, and there Benjamin grew to man- 
hood. The parents of Katie Miller were 
Abram and Hannah Miller. Benjamin and 
Katie were married in Ohio and after a few 
years moved to Jackson township. Wells 
county, Indiana, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their days. Katie was born 
January 7, 1815, and died October 22, 1888. 
Benjamin Hudson was born December 26, 
1808, and died February 11, 1897. He was 
twice married. To the first wife, Nancy S., 
two children were born, and to the second, 
Katie M., nine children were born. The 
children by his first marriage were James, 
a resident of Jackson township. Wells 
county, Indiana, and Sarah O. Of the sec- 
ond marriage the children are Lucinda, de- 



[66 



WELLS COUNTY. IXDLVNA. 



ceased; \^'illiam. who died in the army; 
Lavina, deceased; EHzabeth, the wife of 
Alexander Little, of Montpelier, Indiana; 
Sophrona, deceased; Mollie, wife of John 
Baker; Selby, now a resident of Kansas; 
Abram, deceased; Belinda, the wife of Ross 
D. Dintman, deceased, and is now living in 
Kansas. 

After John Baker's marriage he settled 
on the farm where he now lives. He owned 
the south forty acres and after the death of 
his parents he purchased the remaining 
forty acres of the farm. He now owns two 
hundred and sixty-nine acres of fine land in 
Jackson township, eighty acres of which is 
in the home place. There are fourteen oil 
wells on his land, the production of which 
yields a profit of about two hundred dollars 
per month. Besides looking after his in- 
terests in this line, Mr. Baker also has the 
supervision of his farm. He is a general 
stock farmer and has devoted the greater 
portion of his life to farming and its allied 
interests. He has earned and accumulated 
the most of his wealth by his own efforts. 
He is the father of three children : James 
W., born May 23, 1876, married Anna Good 
and lives on a part of the home place and 
is now an oil pumper; they have one child, 
Maxie; Benjamin Franklin was born Sep- 
tember 23, 1876, married Mary H. Hay- 
ward, and lives on a part of his father's land, 
and is an oil pumper; he is the father of two 
children, Ethel and Hazel ; Oscar E., the 
youngest son, was born November 29, 1884, 
and is at home with his parents. Both Mr. 
Baker and wife were formerly members of 
the Christian church, but the congregation 
to which they were attached having disband- 
ed, they have not formed other church con- 
nections. He is a member of Masonic 
Lodge No. 246 in Warren, Indiana. 



In politics Mr. Baker is a Democrat and 
has always voted that ticket in national and 
state afifairs. In local and municipal mat- 
ters, however, he believes in voting for the 
best man. without regard to the party to 
which he belongs. In i8g6 he built a very 
fine house on his farm and has it well fur- 
nished. He constructed his barn in 1901. 
The success which has attended the efforts 
of John Baker to improve his environments 
has again demonstrated the fact that in this 
country no life need be barren of results if 
directed by a definite purpose, accompanied 
by industrious habits and the moral recti- 
tude which gives stability and worth to char- 
acter. L'pon commencing in life, his plans, 
like those of so many thousands of others, 
were interrupted by the Civil war. which 
gave to the country a new and valuable ex- 
perience. As a patriotic citizen he perform- 
ed his duty as a soldier, and returned after 
peace had been declared to continue his pur- 
poses in life. After working a number of 
years as a carpenter, he became identified 
with the agricultural pursuits of the coun- 
try, the ground work of the nation's pros- 
perity. In this he has been eminently suc- 
cessful and, chiefly by his own labor and 
efforts, has secured a competence and a po- 
sition in his community which is highly 
creditable to him as a citizen and neigh- 
bor. 



HENRY A. MANN. 



Henry A. Alann was born in Monroe 
county, West Virginia, July 8. 1828. His 
father, Michael ]\Iann, was born in \'ir- 
ginia, August 12, 1795, his father being 
Jacob Mann, a native of Germany. The 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



167 



maternal parent of the subject, Cynthia 
(Walker) Mann, was also a native of Vir- 
gmia, born January 5, 1797. The parents 
of the subject were married March 14, 
18 16, and settled on a farm in Virginia, 
where the father engaged in farming, also 
conducting the business of blacksmithing. 
In 1833 they came to Henry county, Indi- 
ana, entering land in the new country where 
the wife died September 30, 187 1. Michael 
afterward married a second wife, who died 
prior to his own death, which occurred at 
Rensselaer. Indiana, December 21. 1889. 
Michael Mann was the father of the fol- 
lowing children: Jacob C, born July 20, 
182 1, a resident of Howard county, Indi- 
ana; Christopher D., born December 11, 
1830, now a resident of Marion, Indiana; 
Henry A.; Clayton W., born June 29, 18 19; 
Marinda, born July 5. 1823; Leroy, born 
March 7. 1826: Lucinda C. born October 
6, 1833. 

Henry A. Mann attended the district 
schools of Henry county until he was about 
eighteen years of age, but at that period of 
time the terms of school were very brief 
and the most of his time until that age was 
spent in assisting his father on the farm. 
He also attended Franklin College, south 
of Indianapolis, for a short time in 1854 
and at the age of twenty-one years began 
work for himself, a part of the time crop- 
ping on his father's place and a part of the 
time working for wages on the farm for his 
father. He made his home with his father 
until January 3. 1856, at which time he 
married Martha Allen, a daughter of Wil- 
liam and Sarah (Prathee) Allen, the father 
a native of North Carolina, born Septem- 
ber 7, 1798. and the mother a native of Vir- 
ginia, born October 8, 1806. William 



Allen was a son of Reuben Allen, also a 
native of North Carolina. \\'illiam and 
Sarah Allen were married October 19, 
1826, in Wayne county, Indiana, where 
they settled, remaining there for a time. 
They then removed to Madison county, In- 
diana, where they lived the remainder of 
their lives. William was the father of 
eight children, four of whom are _\-et living : 
James, born July 30, 1827, died February 
15, 1893; Thomas C, born September 10, 
1829, died November 11, 1854; Martha, 
born October 16, 1831, the wife of the sub- 
ject; W. A., born in March, 1834, a physi- 
cian now practicing in Rochester, ]\Iinne- 
sota ; Jonathan P., born August 12. 1837, 
died January 5. 1862. of disease contracted 
in the army; Benjamin F., born February 
6, 1840. now a dentist in Glencoe. Minne- 
sota; Mary E., born November 16, 1842. 
died September 19. 1845, and Rachel, born 
December 15, 1846, now the wife of C. W. 
Wymant, of Danville, Indiana. The sub- 
ject, after his marriage, settled in Henry 
county. Indiana, renting a farm for a period 
of three years. He then removed to Wells 
county, settling in Nottingham townshiji. 
purchasing one hundred acres of land, 
which he cleared and brought under culti- 
vation. After remaining on this farm sev- 
enteen years, he purchased eighty acres, 
where he now lives, also clearing the greater 
part of this place. The subject now owns 
one hundred and eighty acres of fine farm- 
ing land and, besides being a general stock 
farmer, is one of the four stockholders in- 
terested in the grain elevator at Poneto, 
Wells county. 

Mr. Mann is the father of two children, 
one of whom is yet living: Emma, born 
August 16. 1857, died September 2, 1859; 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



James ]\I.. born April 15, i860, married 
Sarah Stahl, and is now a resident of Not- 
tingham township, and is the father of one 
child, Lillie. The subject and family are 
connected with the Baptist church, of which 
he has been a clerk for thirty-one years and 
a deacon for about thirteen years. He 
answered his country's call during the great 
Rebellion, enlisting in the army on October 
16, 1864, in Company K, Fifty-third Regi- 
ment Indiana Volunteers, and served until 
the close of the war. While the husband 
was absent in the army serving his country, 
his wife was left alone on the farm with her 
little son. then five years old. Owing to the 
absence of nearly all the men in the army 
she did her own plowing, but she says that 
her old horse knew more about the business 
than she did herself. 

In politics the subject of this sketch has 
been a Republican all his life, and, as in all 
the relations of life, he has performed his 
civic duties from conscientious motives of 
duty, and when he is convinced that he is 
right is hard to swerve from his course. He 
is a type of the solid, responsible yeomanry 
of our state, possessing all the traits of eco- 
nomic thrift and industry possessed by the 
German people. 



TORN S. HYDE 



John S. Hyde was born November 19, 
1842, in White Water township, Franklin 
county, Lidiana, and is a son of Thomas 
Hyde, a native of Lancastershire, England, 
born near Manchester in 1808. Thomas 
Hyde came to the United States in 1839, 
finding his first stopping place near Mt. Car- 
mel, Franklin county, Lidiana. While in 
England he spent seven years as an ap- 



jarentice tii a surgeon. He began practice 
with his brother while in England and was 
with him two years. After coming to this 
country he again began practice and con- 
tinued in that vocation until his death, 
which occurred November 9, 1886, he being 
at that time the oldest practitioner in Frank- 
lin county. He was married to Esther Hall, 
February 22, 1842. After his marriage he 
bought a piece of land in Franklin county 
and began to devote some time to farming. 
He was the father of twelve children, six of 
whom are yet living: John S.. Edward, 
who is now a resident of Franklin county; 
Thomas F., deceased; James P.; Harrison 
M., deceased ; Eli E. ; Joel B. ; James died in 
infancy ; Esther died in childhood ; Eliza- 
beth, and an infant who died unnamed. 

John S. Hyde attended the schools in 
Franklin county, Indiana, until he was about 
twenty years of age, going about ten weeks 
in the year. He then taught one term of 
school. In 1864, when he was in his twen- 
ty-second year, he went west, stopping near 
Virginia City, Montana; he stopped there 
most of his time, although he spent four 
months where Butte City now stands. When 
he first went to Butte there were but two 
houses in the place, and one of those a mis- 
erable log hut. He spent eight years and 
nine months in mining, most of the time pn 
his own account. He had fair success and 
thinks he made more money than if he had 
remained in Indiana. In 1873 he came back 
to his old home in Franklin county, In- 
diana. After one year he, with his 
brother Edward, purchased one hun- 
dred and seventy-three acres of land in 
Franklin county and began farming in the 
spring of 1875, continuing it until. March, 
1888. at which time he sold out and re- 
moved to Wells county and purchased a 




MRS. JOHN S. HYDE. 




JOHN S HYDE 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



t69 



farm, to which he moved in August, 1888, 
and where he still resides. He now has one 
hundred and sixty acres of finely improved 
land, about one hundred and thirty of which 
are under cultivation. When he came onto 
the farm it had no improvements worth 
mentioning, but in 1900 Mr. Hyde built a 
very fine residence on the farm, in which he 
lives and which improvement adds material- 
ly to his surroundings. There are eleven 
productive oil wells on his farm, which are 
making about thirteen inches (tank meas- 
ure) daily. The territory on his farm is 
not yet fully, developed ; when it is, his oil 
wells will probably yield him a profit of 
one hundred dollars per month. He has 
been a general stock farmer and a breeder of 
Poland China hogs, but he has changed to the 
Duroc. and his preference is for shorthorn 
cattle. Mr. Hyde was married October 19, 
1875, to Mary C. Campbell, who was born 
November 22, 1855, the daughter of David 
and Nancy (Laf forge) Campbell. The 
father of Mrs. Hyde is a native of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, and her mother, of Brookville, 
Franklin county, Indiana, the daughter of 
Jacob and Katie (Hartman) Lafforge. 
David was the son of John Campbell, a na- 
tive of Scotland, and died when his daugh- 
ter, the wife of the subject of this sketch, 
was but a child. Mrs. Hyde attended the 
public schools of Franklin county, Indiana, 
until she was about fifteen years of age. Mr. 
an<l ]\Irs. Hyde are the parents of eight 
children: Mary E., born August 16, 1877, 
is the wife of Arthur L. Palen, now a resi- 
dent of Mt. Zion. Wells county, and is the 
mother of one child, Blanche; Estella Hyde 
was born July 25, 1880, married Urias M. 
Brinnemann, a resident of Petroleum. Wells 
county, Indiana, and they have two children, 
Russell and Ralph: Alice G., born Septem- 



ber 10, 1881, was married Octoljer 22, 1902, 
to Charles Bevington; Amy B., born 
November 19, 1885, is at home; John H., 
born May 26, 1887, is at home; Charles E., 
born August 2, 1889; Leona L., born March 
23, 1893, and Clara E., born October 5, 
1894. Mr. Hyde has made all he is worth 
by his own efforts by the aid of his esti- 
mable wife, is blessed with a good wife and a 
pleasant home, with dutiful children, and 
enough of the goods of this world to make 
him comfortable. He appreciates his bless- 
ings and enjoys life. He is a member of the 
Masonic order at Mt. Carmel, Franklin 
county, Indiana, but has his membership at 
present in Lodge No. 246. Warren, Indiana. 
He has always voted the Democratic ticket 
in national affairs, but in local affairs he 
votes for the man. When he bought the 
farm where he now lives his neighbors 
thought he was a "sucker" and said he could 
not "raise beans." He now has as fine a 
farm as there is in the country, and is also 
the owner of six hundred and forty acres of 
land in Pecos county, Texas, which shows 
that he has raised other things than 
"beans;" he has raised his own reputation 
wherever he is known^ as a live, energetic 
farmer, and first class citizen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hyde have in their pos- 
session an old parchment deed executed 
August 20, 1838, and bearing the signature 
of President \"an Buren. 



HENRY STEGKAMPER. 

The gentleman whose name introduces 
this sketch is a creditable representative of 
the large German element which has exer- 
cised such a potent influence in American 
life and upon American industries. Like 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



the majorit)' of his countrymen who have 
found home and fortune in the new world, 
he inherits many of the sterHng characteris- 
tics for which his nationahty has long been 
noted and that he is a true and loyal citizen 
of his adopted government has been abund- 
antly demonstrated by the brave part he 
took while fighting for its maintenance on 
some of the bloodiest battle fields of the sun- 
ny Southland. Mr. Stegkamper was born 
December 15, 1843, '" the kingdom of Han- 
over, the son of Fred and Catherine (Not- 
bush) Stegkamper, both parents natives of 
Germany. By occupation the father was a 
carpenter, which trade he followed for a 
number of years in Hanover. In 1863 he 
came to the United States, whither his son 
Henry had preceded him by one year, and 
spent the remainder of his life in this coun- 
try, continuing his chosen calling as long 
as able to perform manual labor. 

Henry Stegkamper was reared in the 
land of his nativity and received a good edu- 
cation in the public schools. He grew to 
young manhood with a fixed' purpose of 
making the best of his opportunities, but 
early learned that the condition under which 
the common people of his native land ob- 
tained a livelihood was calculated to re- 
tard rather than encourage those not born 
to fortune or influential surroundings. Be- 
ing without either of these essential prerecj- 
uisites, he did the best he could under the 
existing circumstances, meantime forming 
a resolution to leave the Fatherland and go 
to America, of which country he had re- 
ceived many favorable reports from friends 
and relatives who had emigrated thither. 
Not having sufificient means to pay his pas- 
sage, he wrote to an uncle living in the 
LTnited States soliciting a small loan, which 



in due time was remitted. With this money 
he purchased a ticket, set sail and after an 
uneventful voyage landed in New York on 
the 20th day of September, 1862, proceed- 
ing thence to the city of Cleveland, Ohio, 
In the latter place he at once began learning 
the cigarmaker's trade, but after a couple of 
years left his work for the purpose of ten- 
dering his services to his adopted country, 
which at that time was in the throes of a 
great civil war. In March, 1864, Mr. Steg- 
kamper enlisted in Company H. Thirty-sev- 
enth Ohio Volunteers, and within a short 
time thereafter was at the ivunt with the 
army under General Sherman, experienc- 
ing all the horrors of war in the celebrated 
Atlanta campaign. Eleven days after leav- 
ing home he received his first baptism of 
fire in the bloody battle of Resaca and dur- 
ing the one hundred and five days following 
his regiment was constantly under arms. 
He took part in all the engagements pre- 
ceding the fall of Atlanta and later marched 
with Sherman to the sea, subsequently ac- 
companj'ing the celebrated army through 
the Carolinas northward. 

Mr. Stegkamper received a painful 
wound at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, 
which eventually incapacitated him from 
active service, although he remained with 
his command quite a while after his recov- 
erv. In June, 1865, he was discharged 
on account of this disability, after which he 
returned to Cleveland, resumed his trade 
and worked at the same with encouraging 
results until his removal, in 1870, to Hunt- 
ington, Indiana. On the 17th day of Aug- 
ust, 1873, he was happily married to Miss 
Louisa Conklin, of Wells county, ajid three 
years later located at Bluffton, where he has 
since been activelv engaged in the manufac- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



ture of cigars, Iiaving a large and constantly 
increasing trade. 

Mr. Stegkamper is an accomplished busi- 
ness man and a thorough master of the call- 
ing to which the greater part of his life has 
been devoted. He manufactures a high 
grade of cigars, which have a wide reputa- 
tion, and his establishment is the largest and 
best patronized industry of the kind in 
Bluffton. By industry and close attention 
to details he has steadily advanced to a 
prominent place in the business world and 
today his name is honored as one of the rep- 
resentative men of the city in which he lives. 
In the true sense of the term he is a self- 
made man. as he came to this country on 
borrowed capital and without assistance 
other than his own energy and determina- 
tion, worked himself up to the respectable 
position which he now commands. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Stegkam- 
per consists of two sons and four daughters, 
whose names and dates of birth are as fol- 
lows : Ida, June 15, 1874, now the wife of 
Ed. McClure, of Marion, this state; Cora, 
November 4. 1875 ; Rosa, January ij, 
1878: Catherine, September 7, 188 1; Har- 
ry, January 10. 1884, and Fred, who first 
saw the light of day on the 31st of January, 
1890. 

Mr. Stegkamper is a prominent member 
of the Odd Fellows fraternity, belonging to 
Lodge No. 114, at Bluffton, and Encamp- 
ment 141. having passed all the chairs in 
both organizations, besides representing his 
lodge in the grand lodge of Indiana. He is 
also identified with the Grand Army of the 
Republic, being one of the active workers 
in Lew Dailey Post No. 33, of which he is 
now past commander. His religious views 
are in harmonv with the Lutheran creed, he 



and wife belonging to that church and doing 
all in their power to promote its growth 
and usefulness. While not a politician in 
the sense of the word as commonly used, 
Mr. Stegkamper keeps himself well in- 
formed upon all public and political matters, 
voting with the Republican party in state and 
general elections, but in local affairs giving 
his support to the candidates best qualified 
for the offices sought. He has no political 
aspirations himself, preferring his business 
to the distractions of partisan politics and 
the domain of private citizenship to official 
distinction. As a citizen Mr. Stegkamper 
is honorable and upright, strictly honest in 
all his dealings, and his reputation is above 
the shadow of reproach. He stands high in 
the confidence and esteem of the people of 
Bluffton and all who know him speak in the 
most complimentary terms of his sterling 
integrity and straightforward, manly con- 
duct. 



CAPT. BENJAMIN F. WILEY. 

One of the oldest and most honored resi- 
dents of Wells county, Indiana, is Capt. B. 
F. Wiley, of Bluffton, who was born in 
Greenville, Darke county. Ohio, October 16. 
1830, a son of William and Rachel (Mann) 
Wiley. The Wiley family is of Scotch-Irish 
descent, and on coming to America the an- 
cestors of the Captain first located in \'ir- 
ginia, whence they removed to Kentucky, 
where William Wiley, father of the Captain, 
was born and reared. From Kentucky 
William Wiley went to Maryland, where he 
met Rachel Mann, who was then attending 
school and whom he subsequently married. 
This lady was a daughter of Lieut.-Gov. 



72 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



David Mann, of Pennsylvania, and a rela- 
tive of Congressman Mann. William 
Wiley, however, was not in opulent circum- 
stances and emigrated to Greenville, Dark 
county, Ohio, where he carried on tailoring 
somewhat extensively for that early day, 
but was called from earth when his son, B. 
F., was but seven years of age. Mrs. Rachel 
Wiley later married Nelson Kellogg, and in 
1839 the family came to Wells county, Indi- 
ana, and settled in Bluffton, when there 
were but twelve houses in the village and 
these houses far apart. Of the inhabitants 
of the forest in which Bluffton was at that 
time situated the only survivors are Capt. 
Wiley, John Studebaker and Amos Town- 
send, although the city has now a population 
of about five thousand. Mr. Kellogg was a 
plasterer and for twenty years was a justice 
of the peace in Bluffton. 

B. F. Wiley, at the age of thirteen years, 
was employed in making brick for the con- 
struction of the first brick court house erect- 
ed in Bluffton, which has since been replaced 
by a handsome modern structure, and for 
his labor, from daylight until dark, he was 
paid at the rate of four dollars per month. 
In 1844 he was employed in carrying these 
same brick to the masons engaged in erect- 
ing the court house. In the winter of 
1845-6, young Wiley went to Camden to as- 
sist in a branch store owned by John Stude- 
baker, and when that store was abandoned 
he returned to Bluffton and worked for 
Hall & Townsend for some time. In 1850 
Mr. Wiley walked across the plains, a dis- 
tance of twenty-three hundred miles, to 
California. He returned to Bluffton in 
1852, and worked with his stepfather at 
masonry for some time. Later he engaged 
in merchandising, and afterward clerked for 



George Arnold. About this time came the 
breaking out of the Civil war. Ben Wiley, 
as he was called by his intimates, although 
at that time entering upon the prime of early 
manhood, was, like the majority of North- 
ern youth, inspired with loyal patriotism 
and volunteered his services to assist hi pre- 
serving the Union. Accordingly he enlisted 
in Company K, Seventy-fifth Indiana Vol- 
unteer Infantry, under Colonel Robertson 
and Captain Karnes, in August, 1862. This 
regiment was assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland and had its first fighting ex- 
perience at the famous battle of Chicka- 
mauga, September 19 and 20, 1863. In 
1864 he was appointed adjutant of the One 
Hundred and. Thirty-eighth Indiana, and 
later was commissioned captain of Company 
C, One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana, 
and in this capacity served through the 
war and was honorably mustered out at 
Louisville, Kentucky, in August, 1865, after 
an active and faithful service of over three 
years. 

On returning from the army. Captain 
Wiley joined John Studebaker in the busi- 
ness of buying and selling produce at Bluff- 
ton, which business they conducted for 
about five years, and later, in 1872, joined 
John Daugherty and James Crosbee in pork- 
packing. The Captain was also associated 
with Mr. Studebaker in merchandising, but 
sold out to H. C. Arnold, then joined Mr. 
Sunier in the same line, next was by him- 
self awhile, selling to Baumgartner & Hat- 
field in 1882. Captain Wiley then bought 
the Wilson stock and in compan)^ with his 
son carried on business in Bluffton for sev- 
eral years. In 1892 he and his son purchas- 
ed a stock of goods in Elwood and in 1893 
returned to Bluffton and retired from busi- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



^7Z 



ness. He now deals in real estate and is 
also a farmer, owning one hundred and 
twenty-five acres in Bluffton and one hun- 
dred and sixty acres just outside the city 
limits. The Captain is a very public spirited 
citizen, has made three additions to Bluff- 
ton, Nos. I and 2, and Main street additions. 
Wiley avenue was named in his honor, Cen- 
tral avenue being the present north line of 
his farm. 

Captain Wiley was married September 
6, 1855, to Miss Susan Waltz, five children 
being the result of the union, viz : Rachel 
Ellen, who is the wife of Dr. H. H. ^\'ear; 
May, unmarried; William F., a retired mer- 
chant of Chicago, Illinois; ]\Iary E., wife 
of W. D. Burgan, real estate dealer in 
Bluffton, and Charles F., clerk in a retail 
store in New York city. 

Fraternally Capt. Wiley has been a mem- 
ber of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, F. & A. M., 
since 1854, and has also been a trustee of the 
Presbyterian church at Bluffton, of which 
his family are all devoted members. Po- 
litically he was primarily a Whig and cast 
his first presidential vote for Winfield Scott, 
with Graham for vice-president, next in 
1856 for Millard Fillmore, and in i860 for 
Abraham Lincoln. He became a Republi- 
can in i860 and adhered to it until 1884, 
when he became identified with the Prohi- 
bition party, of which he is a leading and 
ardent member and was one of its delegates 
from his district at its last state convention. 
Captain Wiley is a broad minded and liberal 
man, whose sympathies are always extended 
to the laboring classes, to the elevation of 
which he devotes much thought as well as 
practical aid as far as circumstances will 
permit. His popularity among all classes is 
unbounded. 



JOSEPH A. ULLMAN. 

The pump factory at Bluffton, Wells 
county, Indiana, is one of the leading in- 
dustries of the city and is under the efficient 
management of one of the most able young 
business men of the county, Joseph A. Ull- 
man, who was born January 2, 1870, in 
Loudenville, Ohio, a son of George A. Ull- 
man, of German descent. George A. Ull- 
man settled in Ashland county, Ohio, when 
a young man. there grew to manhood, and 
is the present cashier of the Farmers' Bank 
in the city of Ashland. From him Joseph 
A. Ullman received his splendid business 
education. The literary education of Jos- 
eph A. Ullman was acquired in the graded 
and high schools of Ashland city, from the 
latter of which he was graduated in 1888 
with honors and was then appointed to a 
position in the Farmers' Bank of Ashland, 
in the service of which he was retained four 
years, as he was very attentive to his duties 
and withal performed them in an intelligent 
and acceptable manner. After quitting the 
bank, Mr. Ullman engaged in the manufac- 
ture of pumps in Ashland and from a small 
beginning increased the capacity of the 
plant until it required forty workmen to 
fill the orders that poured in upon the con- 
cern. In the winter of 1897-98 Mr. Ull- 
man came to Bluffton and formed a part- 
nership with J. \Y. Sherick, of this city, and 
R. G. Marcy, of Kendallville, Indiana, for 
the purpose of founding the Marcy Alanu- 
facturing Company, the object of which was 
to make and introduce upon the market the 
now famous Red Cross Pump and also to 
handle pump supplies in general. The com- 
pany- at first employed about ten men only, 
but under the skillful management of Mr. 



[74 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Ullman the business has now been so in- 
creased as to require the services of one 
hundred and thirty workmen and the week- 
ly disbursement of cash for wages reaches 
the sum of one thousand dollars in Bluffton 
alone, besides which large amounts are ex- 
pended on salesmen in all parts of the 
United States. 

In addition to his extensive business at 
Bluffton, Mr. Ullman is a stockholder in 
and president of the Tipton Clay Company, 
at Tipton, Indiana. He is a thorough busi- 
ness man and a busy one at that, and pos- 
sesses an enterprising spirit that is in itself 
marvelous. Although he has been in Bluff- 
ton but five years, he has developed a line 
of manufacture that excels in extent possi- 
bly any other in the town and has made 
friends by the hundred who esteem him 
for integrity as a business man and his gen- 
ial and social ways as a neighbor. His busi- 
ness enterprise has been a blessing to the 
community, as his factory gives employ- 
ment to a large number of persons who are 
not necessarily skilled mechanics but must 
have some knowledge of tools and machin- 
ery, and there are always numbers of such 
persons seeking employment, which it is 
Mr. Ullman's good fortune to be able to 
give. It is somewhat surprising to the or- 
dinary individual that a gentleman reared 
at the beginning of his business life to cler- 
ical work should later make so phenomenal 
a success as a manufacturer, and this in- 
stance may be adduced as an evidence of Mr. 
Ullman's wonderful versatility. 

I\Ir. Ullman was united in marriage 
July 6, 1 891, to Miss Martha Marsh, of 
Ashland, Ohio, and their union has been 
blessed with one child, Howard, who was 
born in 1893. The parents are members of | 



the Methodist church at Bluffton, and Mr. 
Ullman is both a Freemason and a Knight 
of Pythias and in the latter order has filled 
all the otfices. 

In the social circles of Bluffton Mr. and 
Mrs. Ullman are jeading and conspicuous 
figures and are greatly esteemed for their 
many amiable qualities. They have made 
friends innumerable, who are warm and 
true, and thev do not all reside in Bluffton. 



SAMUEL H. PALMER. 

This native-born agriculturalist of 
Wells county, Indiana, had his nativity 
April 15, 1845. '" Jackson township, on the 
farm now occupied by \\'illiam Banter. 
Samuel Palmer, the father of Samuel A., 
was a native of Virginia, born December 
27, about the year 1809, and was a son of 
Jacob and Elizabeth (Risoner) Palmer, also 
natives of the Old Dominion. Jacob Palmer 
removed from Virginia, with his family, 
in 1828 and settled in Perry county, Ohio, 
near Thornville, and there Samuel attained 
his majority and in April, 1832, married 
Sarah Fox, a resident of Perry county, 
Ohio, who bore him ten children, of whom 
the following are living : Jacob and Mary, 
Samuel H., Susannah and Sarah J. In 1839 
the Palmer family came to Wells county, 
Indiana, and settled in Jackson township, 
where they resided for forty years and 
then sold to William Banter. While on this 
farm Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had born to 
them eight children, two of whom died in 
early life, and on February 16, 1879, the 
faithful wife was called away in the faith of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, which she 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and her husband had joined the first year 
of their marriage. 

September i, 1881, Samuel Pahner mar- 
ried for his second wife Lucy Stout, who 
still survives. Of the posterity of Samuel 
Palmer there are still living two sons, three 
daughters, thirty-eight grandchildren, for- 
ty-eight great-grandchildren, and one great- 
great-grandchild. There are also living 
in Wells county a host of relatives of Sam- 
uel H. Palmer, whose ancestors settled in 
the same neighborhood and were largely in- 
strumental in redeeming the country from 
the wilderness. "Uncle Sam" Palmer, as he 
is familiarly called by his friends and neigh- 
bors, will be ever remembered for his nu- 
merous good deeds and prolonged longevity, 
as well as for his patriotism during the per- 
iod of the late Civil war. 

Samuel H. Palmer attended the Banter 
school until eighteen year-s old. and at twen- 
ty began work for himself. He married 
Miss Elizabeth Lee. who was born June 5, 
1845, a daughter of Jonathan R. and Susan 
(Banter) Lee, and for the following ten 
years lived on the parental farm ; he then 
located on his father's old homestead, where 
he lived about eighteen years, and then pur- 
chased twenty acres of the farm on which 
he at present lives from which at the time 
not a tree had been felled with the excep- 
tion of a sufficient number to furnish logs 
for a dwelling. The property cost him two 
hundred dollars, for which he went in debt 
one hundred dollars, trading a horse in or- 
der to raise the funds necessary for the first 
payment. A brother of Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Lee) Palmer presented the young couple 
with a forty-acre tract adjoining the twenty 
acres they had purchased and in February, 
1 89 1, Mr. Palmer purchased forty more 



acres, so that he now owns one hundred 
acres, all in one body, on which there are 
five producing oil wells, but the attention of 
Air. Palmer is principally confined to gen- 
eral farming and stock raising. In 1891 
Mr. Palmer built a fine barn, and two years 
later erected one of the handsomest dwell- 
ings in Jackson township. 

Samuel H. Palmer and wife have been 
blessed with seven children, namely : Rosel- 
la, who was born February 12, 1866. and 
died October i, 1872; John W., born Aug- 
ust 17. 1868, married Miss Cora Stephen- 
son, who bore him one child, Mabel, who, 
since the age of eighteen months, has been 
reared by its grandfather, Samuel H. Palm- 
er, the mother having been called away by 
death ; John W. married for his second wife 
Lorinda Cruse^ who has borne four chil- 
dren, Fred, Elizabeth, Leland and Violet 
(deceased) : Susanna was born February 3, 
1872, is now the wife of Ervin Risinger and 
the mother of four children. Alta B., de- 
ceased, John, deceased, Oscar and Samuel 
D. : Hettie V. was born March 10, 1875, is 
married to Chancey Elwood and is the 
mother of three children, Howard. Harvey 
and Homer; the fifth child and sixth child 
of Samuel H. were twins, born No\ember 
4. 1877, and were named Hanford E. and 
Manford E., of whom Manford E. died 
May 14, 1878. and Hanford E. August 22, 
1879 ; Nellie, the youngest, was born Sep- 
tember 17, 1883. For several years Mrs. 
Palmer has been a member of the Universal- 
ist church and in politics Mr. Palmer is an 
active Democrat, having represented his 
party in a congressional convention at An- 
derson, Indiana. He has also served sev- 
eral times as a delegate to congressional 
conventions, and likewise was elected a del- 



176 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



egate to the last state convention, but de- 
clined to attend. 



JONATHAN R. LEE. 

Jonathan R. Lee, one of the oldest res- 
idents of Wells county, now living a life of 
honorable retirement, is a native of Miami 
county, Ohio, born on the 2nd day of De- 
cember, 1822. His father, William Lee, an 
early settler of Ohio, was a native of Vir- 
ginia, as was also the mother, whose name 
before marriage was Martha Little. These 
parents were married in Virginia and for a 
few years thereafter lived in that state, Mr. 
Lee following the shoemaker's trade for a 
livelihood. Thinking to better his financial 
condition further west, William Lee moved 
to Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, where he ran 
a shoe shop about five years and at the expir- 
ation of that time engaged in agricultural 
pursuits in the county of Clark. About the 
year 1847 he took up his residence in the 
newly settled county of Delaware, Indiana, 
where he entered a tract of land and began 
the work of clearing a farm. After a few- 
years there he disposed of his place and pur- 
chased land in the county of Wabash, where 
in due time he cleared a large farm and be- 
came well-to-do financially. Subsequently 
he sold out and moved to Huntington coun- 
ty where he lived the remainder of his days, 
dying on his farm, a short distance east of 
the city of Huntington, after reaching a good 
old age. His first wife, the mother of the 
subject of this sketch, died in Piqua, Ohio, 
and later he entered into the marriage rela- 
tion with Margaret Haney, who survived 
him a number of years. 



To William and Martha Lee were born 
four children, namely : Margaret, de- 
ceased ; Jane, widow of Abram Seamore ; 
Jonathan R., and Martha, who died in child- 
hood. By his second wife Mr. Lee was the 
father of six children, five of whom are liv- 
ing at the present time : William ; Samuel ; 
Ezra; Catherine, widow of Daniel Haney; 
Jonas, the oldest of the second family, has 
been dead a number of years ; Jacob, died in 
the Civil war, and Susannah, also dead. 

The early life of Jonathan R. Lee was 
spent on a farm in Clark county, Ohio, and 
it was there that he received his educational 
training in the subscription schools, attend- 
ing the same until about fifteen years old. 
He then accompanied his parents to Indiana 
and for a number of years thereafter his life 
was closely identified with the pioneer per- 
iod of Delaware county. He assisted his 
father to build a small log cabin on the lat- 
ter's place and though but a lad of fifteen 
did his full share in cutting down timber, 
piling logs and other hard work necessary 
to clear land and fit it for cultivation. He 
also met with many interesting incidents 
peculiar to life in the backwoods, one of 
which was the killing of a large deer, with 
a gun which his father had forbidden him to 
take from the house, thinking such weapons 
dangerous in the hands of a lad unexperi- 
enced in their use. 

Mr. Lee grew up a strong and vigorous 
young man and was able to do his full share 
of clearing, cutting wood and other hard 
work long before attaining his majority. In 
1842, when twenty years old, he was united 
in the bonds of wedlock to Miss Susana 
Banter, of Virginia, and immediately there- 
after commenced farming on rented land in 




MRS. JONATHAN R. LEE. 




JONATHAN R. LEE. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'\NA. 



^n 



Delaware county, where he spent the first 
two years of his married life. At the end 
of tiiat time he bought forty acres of unim- 
proved land in Wells county, for which he 
agreed to pay the sum of one hundred and 
fifteen dollars, going in debt for the greater 
part of the amount. Erecting a small log 
cabin of the most primitive pattern, eighteen 
by twenty feet in size, he and his good wife 
set up their domestic establishment, cheered 
by a sense of ownership such as their pre- 
vious experience had not brought to them. 
He then addressed himself to the larger task 
of clearing his place and by dint of hard 
work, frequently prolonged far into the 
night, prepared for cultivation the first 
spring about six acres, which were planted 
in corn. Between attending his crop and 
clearing, during the following summer he 
increased the area of cultivable ground so 
that by fall he was enabled to sow quite a 
number of acres in wheat which in due sea- 
son yielded bountiful returns. Meantime 
from the sale of such products as could be 
spared and by trading in live stock he great- 
ly reduced the debt on his farm and it was 
not long until the place was entirely free of 
incumbrance. Six years after locating in 
Wells county he was able to purchase other 
land and from that time on he continued to 
add to his real estate until he became the 
owner of about four hundred acres, the 
greater part of which was brought to a high 
state of cultivation. After his boys married 
and left home and Mr. Lee by reason of ad- 
vanced age was no longer able to run his 
farm, he divided the estate among his eight 
children, giving to each forty acres and re- 
taining eighty acres for his own use. As a 
farmer he early took high rank in his town- 
ship, having always been a man of progres- 



sive ideas and sound judgment in matters 
pertaining to the pursuit of agriculture. He 
also achieved an enviable reputation as a 
raiser of fine horses and in this way 
made the greater part of his wealth; there 
was always a great demand for his horses, 
as they were of superior breeds and well cal- 
culated for draft and general farming pur- 
poses. Later in life he devoted considerable 
attention to the raising of fine hogs, in 
which he was also successful, adding very 
materially to his income from this source 
alone. 

After a happy married life of a half cen- 
tury's duration, Mrs. Lee entered into rest 
on the i/th day of March, 1894. She was a 
most faithful and loving companion and 
true helpmeet to her husband during the 
long period they lived together, ministering 
to him in times of suffering, encouraging 
him when the world looked dark, and con- 
tributing to his success in the days of his 
prosperity. She bore him eight children, all 
■of w'hom are living at this writing (1902) : 
their names are William, a prosperous 
farmer of Jackson township, this county; 
Elizabeth, wife of Samuel H. Palmer, also 
a resident of Jackson; Margaret, widow of 
the late Philip Elkin and, since the latter's 
death a number of 3'ears ago, her father's 
devoted companion, especially since the 
death of Mrs. Lee ; she is the mother of one 
son, Daniel K., who was nine months old 
when his father died, but since that time he 
has made his home with his grandfather 
whose interests he now looks after with the 
most filial regard; he married Miss Emma 
Kiser ; Lucy J., the next in order of birth, 
married Meredith Capper, a farmer and 
stockraiser of Pulaski county; John, a 
teacher, married Miss Montry C. Kilan- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



der; George W. is a resident of Jackson 
township; Sarah A. is the wife of Thomas 
Morris and hves at Mt. Zion, this county; 
the youngest member of the family is Mary, 
now the wife of George McFarland, a well 
known resident of the county of Wells. All 
the children of Mr. Lee are honorable, up- 
right citizens of integrity of character and 
occupy enviable positions in the several com- 
munities in which they have resided. 

Mr. Lee has passed the eightieth mile- 
stone on life's journey, but is remarkably 
active for one of his age, being able to get 
about with comparative ease, also retaining 
to a marked degree the possession of his 
mental powers. His coming here and the 
settlement of this township were almost co- 
eval events and to much of its growth and 
prosperity it is indebted to him. He has 
been a \\'estern man in the broad sense of the 
term, and is one of the few left to tell the 
story of the struggles, adversities and final 
successes of the pioneers to whom the people 
of the present day owe such a deep debt of 
gratitude. Forty years ago Mr. Lee, with 
his good wife, joined the Universalist 
church and commenced the Christian life 
that has characterized him ever since. Born 
and reared a Democrat, he faithfully upheld 
the traditions and doctrines of that political 
faith until the organization of the Green- 
back party when he gave his allegiance to 
the latter, firmly believing the financial pol- 
icy which it advocated to be for the best in- 
terest of the American people. Of late 3'ears 
he has paid little attention to politics, voting 
for men and principle rather than at the dic- 
tates of party leaders. Throughout his en- 
tire career he has tried to live up to his ideal 
of right, in view of which fact there is noth- 
ing in the future that he need fear. 



WILLIAM POULESS. 

A thoroughly practical and experienced 
agriculturist of Jackson township. Wells 
county, Indiana, and today one of its most 
respected citizens, William Pouless comes 
from Highland county, Ohio, where he was 
born December 28, 1836, a son of John and 
Hannah (Barnes) Pouless, the former a na- 
tive of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania, Hannah being a daughter of John 
Barnes, also a native of the Keystone state. 
John and Hannah Pouless were married in 
Highland county, Ohio, where he followed 
the cooper's trade until his death, which oc- 
curred when William Pouless, whose name 
opens this biography, was but three years of 
age. Mrs. Hannah Pouless was left a 
widow with six children, named as follows : 
Phebe, who is now a widow and is living 
with her son-in-law, John McAfee: Jacob, 
now a resident of Grant county ; William, 
named at the opening of this paragraph; 
Effie E., Betsie and Christina, both deceased. 
Mrs. Hannah Pouless accepted for her sec- 
ond husband Joseph Saum, but both have 
died, with no issue to their union. 

William Pouless was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of Highland county. Ohio, and 
of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, 
having come with his mother to the latter 
place in 1851. The mother settled here on 
the farm now owned by the son, William, 
and here passed the remainder of her life, 
dying about 1892. 

At the age of twenty-one years William 
Pouless began the ctiltivation and the gen- 
eral care of his step-father's farm, and was 
recompensed for his toil and care by being 
awarded one-third of the crops. He con- 
tinued thus to manage the farm for his 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



179 



mother and step-father until he was forty- 
five years of age and on June 26, 1882, 
William Pouless married Miss Mary J. 
Walters, who was born about 1847, ^ daugh- 
ter of Josuah and Catherine Walters, the 
father a native of Ohio and an old settler 
in Wells county, Indiana, and the mother 
a native of Perry county, Ohio. 

After his marriage William Pouless pur- 
chased fifty-eight acres of the home place, 
and now owns a neat and well-kept farm of 
one hundred and ten acres. To pay for this 
land Mr. Pouless has to thank only himself, 
as it was through his individual labor and 
exertion that the money was earned with 
which to pay for it. He has now cleared 
up seventy acres and has improved the place 
with a comfortable and modern dwelling, 
substantial barns and other necessary out- 
buildings and has all the cleared space un- 
der a high state of cultivation. He pays a 
great deal of attention to stock raising, 
breeding shorthorn cattle and Poland China 
hogs in preference to other breeds. In addi- 
tion to general farming and stock raising. 
Mr. Pouless is engaged in oil producing, 
having six good wells on his premises which 
net him steadily at least one hundred dollars 
per month. It may thus readily be seen that 
Mr. Pouless holds a prominent place among 
the substantial residents of his township and 
county. 

Mrs. Pouless is affiliated with the Union 
chapel of the Methodist Protestant church, 
and in his fraternal relations Mr. Pouless 
holds membership with Salamonie Lodge 
No. 392, I. O. O. F., at Warren, Indiana. 
In politics Mr. Pouless is a Democrat, but 
takes little interest in party matters, save 
that he warms up considerably about the 
time that a campaign opens. A true patriot, 



Mr. Pouless enlisted in October, 1865, in 
Company C, Thirty-fifth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, and served under General 
Thomas in Kentucky. Alabama, Louisiana 
and Texas, thrice crossing the gulf of Mexi- 
co; but because of disability he was honor- 
ably discharged before the close of the year. 
Mr. Pouless has as a relic of "ye olden 
times," an old arithmetic, published in the 
year 1793, probably the oldest book in Wells 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Pouless in the good- 
ness and kindness of their hearts have taken 
three little homeless children and reared 
them as their own. 



CHARLES H. FORD. 

This thriving young farmer and oil pro- 
ducer of Wells county, Indiana, was born in 
Dayton, Ohio. April 17, 1873. Thomas 
Ford, father of Charles H., was born in 
Ireland about 1832 and when twenty-one 
years old came to America, found employ- 
ment as a tanner at Dayton, Ohio, located 
his home near that city and for twenty years 
was in the employ of the same individual, 
but during that period twice made \isits to 
his native island. 

About the same time that Thomas Ford 
came from Ireland there also came Miss 
Catherine Delahant}', and the two formed 
an acquaintanceship in Dayton, which re- 
sulted in their marriage. The young couple 
continued their residence in the city named 
until 1874, when they came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and settled on the one- 
hundred-and-sixty-acre farm now owned by 
their son, Charles H.. but which now com- 
prises eighty acres only. On this farm 



t8o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



Thomas Ford passed the remainder of his 
Hfe, dying February 2, 1892. His widow, 
now about seventy years of age, is at present 
a resident of Hartford City, Indiana, and is 
the mother of eight children, named as fol- 
lows : Thomas A., a resident of Dayton, 
Ohio; \V. J., who lost his life by coming in 
contact with a "live" electric wire in Hart- 
ford City, Indiana; Mary C, deceased wife 
,of Thomas Monahan, of Bluffton, Indiana; 
John E., deceased; Anna, deceased; Jennie, 
wife of Michael Timmons, of Hartford 
City; Michael J., a Catholic clergyman, 
now in Logansport, Indiana, and Charles 
H., whose name opens this biography. 

Charles H. Ford was educated in the 
Dundee school of Blackford county, Indi- 
ana, which he attended until about eighteen 
years of age, when he removed with his par- 
ents to Hartford City, in the same county, 
where he was employed in various occupa- 
tions for about six years. 

February 16, 1898, Mr. h^ard married 
Miss Elizabeth A. Nolen, who was born 
November 2"], 1872, a daughter of John 
and Ann (Orrark) Nolen, natives of Ohio. 
In the latter state her parents continued to 
reside until death called the father away, 
when the widow with her family moved to 
Hartford City, Blackford county, Indiana, 
where INIrs. Ann Nolen still resides. The 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ford has been 
blessed with one child, Catherine A., who 
was born April 30, 1899. 

After marriage Mr. Ford settled on the 
old home farm, where he has charge of one 
hundred and sixty acres of arable land, and 
on which farm there are eight flowing oil 
wells, producing about five hundred barrels 
per month, although they have turned out as 
much as thirteen hundred barrels per month. 



Mr. Ford has erected for his occupation 
a very handsome dwelling and is now con- 
structing a commodious and substantial 
barn. He and wife are members of St. 
John's Catholic church of Hartford City, 
and in politics Mr. Ford is a Democrat, al- 
though in local matters he prefers to support 
the candidates whom he feels to be capable 
of filling an office satisfactorily, rather than 
a candidate who has no merit other than 
that of being a Democrat. 



O. B. BEVINGTON. 

O. B. Bevington was born in Jackson 
township. Wells county. Indiana, November 
6, i860. He is a son of R. A. Bevington, 
born May 25, 18 19, in Pennsylvania, and 
who died March 24, 1897. His maternal 
parent was Catherine (Shadle) Bevington, 
born in the year 1827, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, who died March 24, 1887. R. A. 
Bevington, a few years after his first mar- 
riage, came to Wells county, Indiana, at a 
very early day, entered land and cleared up 
a farm, and remarried, his second wife be- 
ing Lucy Gill. He then removed into Hunt- 
ington county, Indiana, where he died. To 
his first union eleven children were born, 
six of whom are yet living: Clorinda, the 
wife of Samuel Knott, a resident of Jack- 
son township ; Melissa, the wife of Peter 
Runkle, of Jackson township. Wells county ; 
Sarah, who is the wife of Dr. Harrold, a 
resident of Blackford county, Indiana; O. 
B., of Montpelier, Indiana; Henrietta, the 
wife of Daniel Alspach, and Oscar, now a 
resident of Fairmount, Indiana. The de- 
ceased children of the first marriage are 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



Emaline E., wlio was the wife of Isaac 
Uodson; Martha, Ira and Catherine. 

The subject attended the pulilic schools 
of Jackson township until he was about 
fourteen years old, when he went to work 
with his father and remained until he was 
twenty-four years of age, receiving his 
board and clothes for his labor. After his 
mother's second marriage he left home. He 
then began working by the day for Daniel 
Alspach, and afterward by the month for 
Walter Perry, with whom he remained one 
summer. He then went to Delaware county, 
Indiana, where he remained from fall until 
the holidays. He then came to R. A. Bev- 
ington's, remaining one year, when he went 
to Fulton county, Ohio, and was there for 
about six years. He then came back to In- 
diana, working by the day and month for 
about one and a half years, when he married 
Eva L. Good, a daughter of John Good. 
She died January 19, 1898. After his mar- 
riage, Mr. Bevington moved onto the old 
homestead, where he remained for about 
seven years, when he constructed buildings 
and removed to a farm on which he now 
lives. After living on this place for about 
three months he married Elvina Davis, born 
April 20, 1878, a daughter of John and 
Mary (Bailey) Davis, both natives of 
Huntington county, Indiana, the father now 
deceased. Mr. Bevington is a general stock 
farmer and has engaged in the breeding and 
handling of cattle, hogs and horses. In the 
line of swine he prefers the Poland China 
breed and is an admirer of shorthorn cattle. 
He has five fine producing oil wells on his 
farm, which seem to be holding up well, 
yielding him a profit of about fifty dollars 
per month. He has devoted his entire life 
to farming and farm interests. He is the 



father of two children, one of whom is liv- 
ing: Martha, born December 16, 1900, 
died April 12, 1901. and Russell B., born 
April 12, 1902. 

Mr. Bevington was formerly a Republi- 
can in politics, but is now a Prohibitionist. 
Both he and wife are members of the Wes- 
leyan Methodist church in Warren, Indiana, 
and are exemplary representatives of that 
worthy denomination. O. B. Bevington is 
a worthy example of the citizenship which 
is the product of our common district 
schools and the sturdy farm life, belonging 
to that class who naturally take up the vo- 
cation of the farm for their life work, and 
thus become a part of that important and 
influential element of our population which 
is the bone and sinew of the country and to 
whom the nation is indebted for the bound- 
less prosperity which is ours and of which 
we boast. 



LEW L. DeHAVEN. 



L. L. DeHaven, the present energetic 
and able assistant superintendent of the 
Bluffton water-works plant, is a son of 
Walter B. and Dorothy (Pleasinger) De- 
Haven, and was born in Bluffton, Wells 
county, Indiana, April i'", 1867, this city 
having always been his home. He was edu- 
cated in the graded and high schools of 
Bluffton, which he attended during the win- 
ter seasons of each year, and in the summer 
season worked in a store, in the meanwhile 
acquiring a thorough knowledge of ma- 
chiner}-. In July, 1886, he was appointed to 
his present position as assistant superintend- 
ent of the Bluffton water-works, and so at- 



l82 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tentive and faithful has he been in the per- 
formance of the dtities pertaining to this 
position that his salary has several times 
been increased without solicitation on his 
part. Since Mr. DeHaven has been the in- 
cumbent of this office the works have been 
enlarged from 45x20 feet to 60x104 feet; 
there were then two forty-horse-power boil- 
ers and one pump, three and one-half miles 
of line pipe and thirty-seven fire hydrants; 
there are now two one-hundred-horse-power 
boilers, a new duplex pump with a capacity 
of three and a half million gallons per day, 
a compound air compresser with a capacity 
of one and a half million, and one well 
twenty-five feet in diameter, to which has 
been added another 35x80 feet ; there have 
been put in ten eight-inch holes, two hun- 
dred feet deep, from which the water is 
forced by air compressors, and there are 
now fifteen miles of pipe and eighty-six fire 
hydrants. The plant is self-sustaining and 
is one of the finest in any city in the state of 
the size of Bluffton. During the past six- 
teen years there have been one hundred and 
sixty-five fires in the city, the greater num- 
ber of which occurred in winter, but under 
the supervision of Mr. DeHaven the works 
have been adecjuate for all emergencies. 

L. L. DeHaven was married in 1890 to 
Miss Minnie J. Liest, a native of Wells 
county, and this union has been blessed with 
two children, Bessie and Frank. Mr. and 
Mrs. DeHaven are members of the Presby- 
terian church, and. Mr. DeHaven is a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 
92 and also of the order of American Me- 
chanics No. 5, a beneficial organization. In 
politics Mr. DeHaven is a Democrat, but has 
never been an ofifice seeker. He is a very 
gentlemanly young man and visitors to the 



water works invariably depart highly 
pleased with his treatment of them. 

Walter B. DeHaven, superintendent of 
the Bluffton water-works and the father of 
Lew L. DeHa^'en, was born in Summit 
county, Ohio, May 28. 1843, 'ind is a son of 
Nathaniel DeHaven, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, who came to Bluffton in 1854, where 
he had a shingle and lath factory, and where 
he died in 1872 in his eighty-fifth year, the 
father of fourteen children, of whom seven 
still survive. Walter B. grew to manhood 
in BlufTton, here learned the profession of 
engineer, and has been a foreman or has al- 
ways held some equally responsible position, 
being recognized as one of the best in- 
formed machinists in Wells county. When 
the water-works were established in Bluffton 
in 1886 Walter B. was selected on account 
of his superior ability to fill the position of 
superintendent and his son. Lew L., was ap- 
pointed his assistant. So satisfactorily have 
been their services that they have been re- 
tained ever since with occasional increase of 
compensation for their invaluable services 
as the plant became more and more re- 
munerative. Walter B. DeHaven was first 
united in marriage, in 1864, with Miss Dor- 
othy Pleasinger, sister of J. B. Pleasinger, 
ex-sherifif of Wells county, and this union 
has been blessed by the birth of nine chil- 
dren. Mrs. Dorothy DeHaven was called 
away in the faith of the Presbyterian 
church, and Mr. DeHaven chose for his 
second wife Lavina Elwell, a native of 
Bluffton, who died in 1895. In politics Mr. 
DeHaven is a Democrat and has served as a 
member of the city council of Bluffton for 
four years, but has never been ambitious as 
to holding ofifice. He is a member of Bluff- 
ton Lodge No. 145, F. & A. M., and is a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



183 



quiet, unassuming gentleman, a good neigh- 
bor, and is highly respected and well known 
throughout Wells county. 



GEORGE TURNER. 



The subject of this sketch, who was born 
January 22, 1858, is a son of James Tur- 
ner, a native of Greene county, Ohio, and 
Mary (Arnold) Turner, a native of Darke 
county, the same state, and was born in 
Jackson township. Wells county, on the 
farm on which he now resides. James, the 
father, was a son of Jonathan and Polly 
Turner, natives of Ohio, the latter a daugh- 
ter of Samuel B. and Mary Arnold, and of 
Irish descent, while her husband's ancestors 
were English. They both died in Wells 
county. James Turner came with his par- 
ents to Wells county in an early day and 
settled in Chester township on the farm now 
owned by Simeon Crosby, where they re- 
sided until they died. Jonathan Turner 
was the father of five children, two of which 
are yet living: James, deceased, father of 
the subject ; George, deceased ; Catherine, 
deceased, who was the wife of Jesse Thom- 
as, of Chester Center, Wells county ; Mar- 
gerie. the wife of Isaac Gray, now a resi- 
dent of the state of New York; Tilda, the 
wife of Milton Shields. James Turner, the 
father of the subject, was married to Mary 
Arnold and settled on a farm in Chester 
township and began as a farmer, but after 
two years they removed to Montpelier, In- 
diana, where he learned the blacksmithing 
trade. Grandfather Arnold, who was of 
German descent, was born in New York 
state, while his wife, who was of English 



descent, was a native of Maryland. After 
working at his trade for about twelve years 
he traded a horse for forty acres of land in 
the woods and returned to Wells county. 
Here he followed farming until his death, 
which occurred in September, 1880, on the 
farm where his widow yet lives. James 
Turner was the father of five children, two 
of whom are yet living, the subject and twin 
sister, Barbara. Mary E. died in early child- 
hood; Susanna, deceased, was the wife of 
I. N. Perry, and Eli, who died at the age of 
two years. 

The subject attended the public schools 
of Montpelier and Jackson township. Wells 
county, until he was seventeen years old, 
ufter which he remained with and worked 
for his father until he was twenty-one years 
of age. He then got 'married and com- 
menced work on the home place, his father 
furnishing seed, teams and implements, giv- 
ing George one-third of the crops. He 
farmed in this way for about si.x years, 
when he bought the stock and implements, 
after which he received two-thirds of the 
products of the farm, and thus continued to 
work until his father's death. He now owns 
an eighty-acre farm of fine land (the old 
home place), about sixty of which is in a 
high state of cultivation. 

Mr. Turner is one of the lucky ones who 
have struck oil. His farm, being in the 
"belt," now contains ten producing wells, 
from which he derives a profit of about one 
hundred and forty dollars per month, and 
this number will be increased by three or 
four additional wells when his farm is fully 
developed in that line. He now has one 
well to each five acres. He has devoted his 
whole life to farming and breeding of fine 
stock, as his well cultivated farm and herds 



i84 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



of Poland China hogs, Durham cattle and 
Shropshire sheep attest. 

The subject of this sketch has been twice 
married, his first wife being Eva Krise, a 
daughter of Isaac and Janie Krise, who died 
after two years of married life, leaving a 
son, Charles Albert, six months old. This 
son married Miss Pearl Booher and is now 
an oil worker in Grant county. For his 
second wife Mr. Turner married Sarah J. 
Saxon, a daughter of James and Sarepta 
(Boyles) Saxon. To this union ten chil- 
dren were born, nine of whom are now liv- 
ing: Eva E. married Frederick Ice and 
is the mother of one child, Carrie; James 
H., an oil worker: Mary M., at home; 
Emma I., at home; Margaret: Francis M., 
at home; Sarah M.. at home; George W., 
deceased ; Harmon, at home, and John D. 
As an instance of the success attending a 
definite purpose and well directed efforts 
in life, the subject of this sketch is a living 
example. He is a worthy descendant of 
one of the hardy pioneers who pushed on to 
aid in reclaiming the wilderness and found 
a home in the west. He has lived to see and 
enjoy the full fruition of the labors and 
hopes of the early settlers and he received 
as the reward of his own labor a well mer- 
ited prosperity. He is now in the posses- 
sion of a pleasant home, a competency for 
his declining years, surrounded by sons and 
daughters whose future achievements shall 
add honor to his name. His wife is a mem- 
ber of the Disciples church and he contrib- 
utes liberally of his means to the cause. 
Politically the subject is a Democrat, which 
ticket he has voted since his majority with 
the exception of the first, which he cast for 
James A. Garfield for President. He is a 
close reader and takes some interest in the 



party campaigns, but devotes his time prin- 
cipally to his farming interests. 



WILLIAM COLBERT. 

William Co]l)ert, born October 2, 1849, 
on the farm where he now lives, is a son of 
George Colbert, a native of Ohio, and Mrs. 
Elizabeth King (Collins) Colbert, also a na- 
tive of Ohio. George married a Miss Chap- 
man in Ohio, and in an early day came- to 
Jackson township. Wells county, Indiana, and 
settled on the farm where the subject of this 
sketch now lives. The land at that time was 
all in woods,, but he afterward cleared it up. 
He remained on this farm until his death 
and was buried on the place, as was his first 
wife also. He married Mrs. Elizabeth Col- 
lins for his second wife and to this union 
were born six children, four of whom are 
yet alive: William; Isaiah, a twin, died 
when about three years of age ; Isaac, now a 
resident of Huntington county, Indiana; 
George, now residing in the state of Cali- 
fornia; Nancy J., deceased, and Lucinda, 
the wife of Samuel Haines. William at- 
tended the public schools in Jackson town- 
ship until he was about eighteen years of 
age. Then remaining with his father until 
he was twenty-one, he began cropping on 
the home farm, and so continued until his 
father made a division of his land. About 
1867 William Colbert was married to Miss 
Amanda Miller, a daughter of Joseph and 
Nancy (Jones) Miller, both natives of 
Wells county, Indiana, where they were 
married and settled on the farm now owned 
by Nancy Miller and her second husband, 
James Hutson. Joseph Miller, who died 




MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM COLBERT. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



'85 



when Amanda was a small child, was the 
father of seven children, fonr of whom are 
yet living: Mary E., deceased; Isaac, de- 
ceased; Rebecca, the wife of Elijah Morri- 
son; Amanda, wife of William Colbert; 
Samuel, now a resident of Warren, Indiana ; 
Josephine, deceased; and Delilah, wife of 
Samuel Huffman, of Jackson township. 

After his marriage William Colbert 
moved into the house with his father and 
after one year he built a house on his fath- 
er's farm and moved into it, remaining there 
for four years. His father, becoming dis- 
satisfied at this time, wanted William to 
move back on the home farm, which he did 
and cared for his father until the latter's 
death : he has since remained on the same 
farm. He now owns seventy-one acres of 
fine land, on which there are two producing 
oil wells ; the lease on his farm for develop- 
ment in that line is just beginning,however. 
He has devoted his whole time to farming 
interests and is also a general stock farmer, 
usually breeding Poland China hogs and 
shorthorn cattle. 

Mr. Colbert's family consists of four 
children : INIamie J. is the wife of Louis 
Minnich, a resident of Jackson township. 
Wells county, and they have one child. Park 
F. ; Cora A. married H. J. Roby, a farmer 
of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, 
and they have two children, Beryl O. and 
Hazel; Daniel L.. who married Clara 
Beard, is an oil pumper and lives on a part 
of the old homestead ; Joseph C. an oil 
pumper, is at home. 

Mr. Colbert and wife were formerly 
members of the Christian church, but the 
congregation to which they belonged is now 
disbanded. He has always been a Democrat 
and has been somewhat active in politics. 



William Colljert is an enterprising, ener- 
getic citizen, fully alive to the questions of 
the day, with an inclination to the perform- 
ance of his civic duties from conscientious 
motives and a due regard to the rights of 
others, and himself and family are held in 
high esteem in the community in which they 
live. 



SAMUEL C. KNOTT. 

Samuel C. Knott was born June 25, 
1845, '" Delaware county, Indiana, the son 
of James and Susan (Mofifett) Knott. His 
father was a native of Guilford county, 
North Carolina, born November 22, 1808, 
and married Susan Mofifett November 22, 
1 83 1, on his twenty-third birthday. Susan 
was born October 8, 181 3, and had come to 
Fayette county, Indiana, in an early day 
with her parents, James and Mary Mofifett. 
There James Knott married her and they 
settled down to farming in Fayette county 
for a short time and then came to Delaware 
county, Indiana, and settled on land in the 
woods. Susan died when the subject was 
seventeen months old. She and her hus- 
band were making a visit in Fayette county, 
Indiana, when she was taken sick and died 
November 19. 1846, being buried in that 
county. James, the father of Samuel, mar- 
ried Charity Vanmetre, his second wife, in 
1850, and spent the remainder of his life 
in Delaware county, Indiana.' His wife 
died October 6, 1857, and his death ensued 
June 6, 1863. To his first union six chil- 
dren were born, four of whom are yet liv- 
ing: Mary Emma, born April 12, 1833, 
died about August. 1875; William P., born 
November 25, 1834, now a resident of 



i86 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Blountsville, Henry county, Indiana: John 
W., born July 12, 1836, now a resident of 
Jackson township. Wells county, Indiana; 
Martha, born December 25, 1838, died 
about 1889; Minerva J., born November 
16, 1848, the wife of John S. Barr, a res- 
ident of Blounts\-ille, Henry county, Indi- 
ana, and Samuel C, residing in Jackson 
township. To the second marriage one 
child was born, Margaret J., born April 4, 
1855, and died January 23, 1884. 

Samuel C. Knott was educated in Del- 
aware county, attending the district schools 
of that county until he was seventeen years 
of age, and then remained with his father 
for one year longer, or until he was eigh- 
teen. He then left home and began work- 
ing by the month in a tan yard in Sulphur 
Springs, Henry county, Indiana, where he 
remained for five or six months and then 
went to Connersville, Indiana, and worked 
in a tan yard for John L. Gilchrist for about 
one year. He then came back to Delaware 
county and worked by the month on a farm 
for about one year, after which he came to 
Wells county, Indiana, and worked for his 
brother a while and also by the day in the 
fall of 1865. September 2 of that year he 
was married to Clorinda Bevington, a 
daughter of R. A. and Catherine (Shadle) 
Bevington (for whose history see sketch of 
O. B. Bevington). 

After his marriage Samuel and wife set- 
tled on a part of R. A. Bevington's farm for 
a short time and then moved to Warren, 
where they remained for a number of years. 
He was engaged in working at the carpen- 
ter's trade, a business which he followed ex- 
clusively for twenty-eight years, working in 
Warren, Hartford City and Cambridge 
Citv. He also contracted in Wells countv 



awhile and then in the cities of Bluffton, Ft. 
Wayne, Summitville and Montpelier, Indi- 
ana. March i, 1898, he settled on the farm 
where they now live. He now has fifty- 
five and a half acres of land, with five pro- 
ducing oil wells on the farm, which yield 
him a profit of fifty dollars per month. He 
is now a general stock farmer, but has spent 
the greater portion of his life as a carpen- 
ter, only devoting a few of his later years 
to the interests of the farm. He is the 
father of seven children, six of whom are 
still living: Olive L., born March 2, 1867, 
married T. F. Ochiltree, an oil pumper in 
Blackford county, and they have four chil- 
dren. Ruby, Ethel, Charles and Mildred; 
Catherine L. was born July 20, 1869. mar- 
ried L. C. Johnson, now a resident of 
Washington, D. C, and they have two chil- 
dren, Zefifie, deceased, and Blanche, born 
January 28, 187 1, who married H. S. By- 
all, a resident of Jackson township, Wells 
county, Indiana; they have three children, 
Samuel, deceased, Robert and Vernon; 
Harry was born September 30, 1874, died 
July 28, 1875 ; O. E., in the state of New 
Jersey, a teacher and a graduate in Vorhis 
Business College: J. C. was born August i, 
1880. and is a barber in Marion, Indiana; 
Pearl, born April 23, 1884, single and at 
home with parents. Mrs. Knott and the 
children are connected with the Church of 
Christ and are exemplary members of that 
denomination. Samuel Knott is, as he ex- 
presses it, a thorough Democrat and during 
campaign times does active party work. He 
has served as constable of Chester township 
and is now filling a position as one of the 
road overseers of Jackson township. He is 
an active, every-day citizen, a native of the 
Hoosier state, where he has lived all his 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



[87 



life. Like tlie majority of boys born on 
farms in the country, after obtaining the 
rudiments of an education in liie common 
schools, he launched out into the world to 
carve out his own "niche" and became the 
architect of his own fortunes. With that 
adaptability which seems inherent in the 
youth of our land to turn a hand to almost 
any kind of work, he, after working for 
short periods of time at various pursuits, 
married, at the age of about twenty years, 
and settled down to the >vork of a carpenter 
and contractor, which business he actively 
followed for a period of twenty-eight years, 
extending his operations over a territory 
embracing several • counties, cities, towns 
and neighborhoods. After engaging exclu- 
sively in this business for so long a period 
of time he, like many mechanics born in the 
country, yielded to his bucolic instincts and 
love of early associations, and in 1898 pur- 
chased a nice little farm of fifty odd acres. 
It has on it a number of oil wells, which 
yield him a nice little income, which he is 
supplementing by indulging his proclivities 
for fine stock, in the breeding of both hogs 
and cattle of the better grades. In this man- 
ner he has settled down to enjoy life, and, 
possessing the esteem of all his neighbors, 
his remaining years promise to pass in 
cheerful contentment. 



DAVID EICHHORN. 

For a number of years a representative 
farmer of Lancaster township, where he 
still has valuable possessions, but of late 
connected with the industrial interests of 
Bluffton, the subject of this sketch is en- 



titled to much more than passing notice in 
the biographical review of Wells county's 
progressive men. As may be inferred from 
the name, Mr. Eichhorn is of German line- 
age. His father, Philip Eichhorn, was born 
in the Fatherland, and when a youth came 
to the United States, the family settling in 
Crawford county, Ohio. The mother, who 
bore the maiden name of JMargaret Hass- 
ler, was also of German birth and her ar- 
rival in America was contemporary with 
that of her future husband. After their 
marriage the parents settled on a farm in 
Crawford county, and continued to reside 
there until the year 1864, when they moved 
to Wells county, Indiana, locating in Rock 
Creek township, where Philip Eichhorn be- 
came the owner of a large and valuable tract 
of land, numbering about eight hundred 
acres. He was a man of great energy and 
thrift, provided liberally for his family and 
at his death, which occurred not long after 
his arrival left a large estate much of 
which is still in possession of his descend- 
ants. The property was divided among the 
children, viz : Frederick, William, John, 
Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary, David, Margaret 
and Philip. 

David Eichhorn, whose name introduces 
this article, was born in Crawford county, 
Ohio, September 11, 1852. When about 
eleven years old he was brought to Indiana 
and from that time to the present his life 
has been very closely interwoven with the 
growth and development of Wells county. 
Blessed with excellent parentage and 
reared according to the democracy of the 
farm, he early developed strength of char- 
acter and definiteness of purpose, which 
served well as a foundation for the success- 
ful career which he has since led as an enter- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



prising fanner and business man and intel- 
ligent, broad minded member of the body 
politic. The public schools afforded him 
the means of a fair education, but by far the 
greater part of his knowledge is of that 
practical kind obtained by coming in contact 
with the world in the stern school of experi- 
ence. Until twenty-one years of age Mr. 
Eichhorn remained on the farm with his 
mother, whose interests he looked after as 
became a true and faithful son. On attain- 
ing his majority he began working for him- 
self and four years later was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary E. Griffin, the ceremony 
being solemnized on the 6th day of August, 
1876. Mrs. Eichhorn was born in Wells 
county, her parents having been among the 
early and well known pioneers of this part 
of the state. 

Immediately following his marriage, 
Mr. Eichhorn moved to a quarter section 
of land in the county of Wells, which he 
still owns and on which he lived and pros- 
pered until October, 1901, when he turned 
the place over to the hands of others and 
moved to Bluffton, with the object in view 
of spending the remainder of his life in re- 
tirement. Mr. Eichhorn's career as an ag- 
riculturist was fortunate in every respect, 
as is attested by the ample competence ac- 
quired during the years of his active labor. 
He became one of the leading farmers of the 
county, also took high rank as a business 
man, while his standing as a citizen was sec- 
ond to that of no other man in the township 
of his residence. Shortly after moving to 
Bluffton he became associated with N. E. 
Stafford and G. A. Harnish in the manu- 
facture of flour, the partnership thus con- 
stituted being still in existence. This firm 
has completely rebuilt and remodeled the 



Wabash River Mill, furnished it with 
machinery for the manufactui-e of flour by 
the latest improved process and under the 
personal supervision of Mr. Stafford, a 
practical miller of many years' experience, 
the enterprise has become one of the city's 
most important industries. Mr. Eichhorn 
has long been interested in the progress of 
his adopted county, and his attitude to- 
wards all movements having for their ob- 
ject its material advancement has been that 
of a wide awake, enterprising and thor- 
oughly public spirited man. He has served 
his township in various official capacities, 
but has never been an office seeker, although 
for many years one of the leading Demo- 
crats of his part of the county. Believing 
the principles of Democracy to be for the 
best interests of the people, and having an 
abiding faith in the dignity of the party's 
mission, he has been active in supporting 
same, devoting much of his time to the 
cause in local, state and national contests. 
For some time he was a member of the 
township council and for a period of four 
years served as assessor, discharging the 
duties of both positions in a manner highly 
creditable to himself and satisfactory to the 
public. 

Mr. Eichhorn holds fraternal relations 
with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to 
the lodge at Uniondale, which he has served 
in important official positions, besides rep- 
resenting it in the grand lodge of Indiana. 
He is an earnest believer in revealed relig- 
ion, and, like all true disciples, makes his 
daily life correspond with his profession. 
Reared according to the strict teachings of 
the German Reformed church, his early re- 
ligious instructions had a potent power in 
shaping his conduct, as is evident from the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



correct deportment and symmetrically de- 
veloped Christian character which has been 
manifest in all his relations with his fellow 
men. He has held office of deacon in the 
local church with which he is identified, his 
family also belonging to the German Re- 
formed communion. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eichhorn are the parents 
of six children, whose names are as follows : 
Ira T., born September 27, 1877. is unmar- 
ried and still a member of the home circle; 
Stella P., born June 18, 1880, is the wife of 
John H. Lesh; Orville D., whose birth oc- 
curred on the 27th of May, 1882, has never 
left the parental roof; Elva M., wife of T. 
P. Paxson, was born August 31, 1885; 
Floa L. was born November 29, i8gi. 
and Celia on the 27th day of October, 1893. 
Mr. Eichhorn is peculiarly blessed in his 
household and has so deported himself as to 
be a worthy example to his children. His 
life forcibly illustrates what can be accom- 
plished by concentration of purpose and in- 
domitable perseverance, directed and con- 
trolled by correct moral and religious prin- 
ciples. He is a fine representative of suc- 
cessful manhood, and possesses a character 
marked by integrity, true benevolence and 
a high sense of personal honor. 



HENRY SCHAFFTER. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the re- 
public of Switzerland is one of the smallest 
countries of the world, it has sent a large 
number of emigrants to the United States 
during the years that have elapsed since in- 
dependence was secured. The people of 
that country, appreciating the blessings of 



liberty, of which they had a strong example 
in their own land, were not slow to recog- 
nize the possibilities that opened out in 
splendid perspective before all who ventured 
across the Atlantic and settled down to the 
pursuit of happiness and a competence. 
They have here become among the most in- 
telligent, patriotic, industrious and upright 
of our great and wonderful cosmopolitan 
population. 

Henry Schaffter was born in Switzer- 
land May 12, 1818, and is the son of John 
H. Schafifter, also a native of that country. 
The father was an expert watchmaker and 
had a splendid reputation as a competent 
workman. He engaged in military service 
and was about to come to America to help 
fight for liberty and independence with Gen- 
eral Lafayette, in which war two of his 
brothers died. When the war closed he was 
sent to Spain and served twenty-four years 
under the French republic and the first em- 
pire, until the battle of Eiloo. He held rank 
as a commissioned officer, winning a high 
reputation as an able and gallant officer and 
was three times wounded. He was the 
father of four children, of whom the sub- 
ject is the only one now living. 

Henry Schafifter remained under the par- 
ental roof until he was sixteen years old, 
in the meantime attending the common 
schools and acquiring a fair education. 
Upon leaving school he was apprenticed to 
learn the trade of cabinetmaker, at wdiich 
he served two years. Upon the completion 
of his apprenticeship he worked for a time 
as a machinist, but afterward went to Ger- 
many and France and worked at the trade 
of cabinetmaking. In 1850, realizing that 
in America lay larger opportunities for a 
man of energy and ambition, he came to the 



I90 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



United States. Upon landing in this coun- 
try he came at once to Vera Cruz, Wells 
county, but shortly after his arrival he was 
taken sick and all his savings were soon 
used up in the payment of doctor's bills. 
Upon recovering his health he purchased a 
farm, consisting mostly of timber land, and 
at once went to work to clear the land and 
put the soil in a condition for cultivation. 
By persistent and indefatigable industry he 
brought the tract to a high state of excel- 
lence and in time possessed one of the choice 
farms of Wells county. He remained upon 
this place until 1902, when he removed to 
Blufifton and has since made his home there 
with his daughter. 

In 1847 M^r. Shaffter was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Marianne Boivin, whose 
death occurred in 1880. To them were 
born twelve children, of whom six are still 
living. There are also twenty-one grand- 
children and nine great-grandchildren. Mr. 
Shaffter is a member of the Reformed 
church. In politics he is a stanch Republi- 
can, and in his younger days took a very 
active and prominent part in local politics. 

In many respects the career of Mr. 
Schaffter is peculiarly instructive and 
commendable. It is a complete triumph over 
apparently insurmountable obstacles by a 
young man with almost no means at his 
command but a determination to make the 
best of his opportunities, and how well he 
has succeeded in this laudable endeavor is 
demonstrated by the fact that he has accu- 
mulated in material things enough to make 
him independent for the rest of his days. 
He is one of the most popular men of his 
community, genial, companionable, ever 
ready to do a favor or make a sacrifice 
whereby his fellow men may he benefited 
or the country profited. 



GEORGE W. COTTON. 

In calling to mind the dealer in live stock, 
most persons will picture him as a hard- 
riding, hard-drinking, hard-swearing in- 
dividual, genial and kind enough in his way, 
but rough of language and uncouth of man- 
ners. Whether or not it is the life they lead 
in driving over the country, purchasing 
stock, driving them to the station to be 
shipped and keeping up a night-and-day 
vigilance upon them while in transit, that 
gives them the distinguishing traits of char- 
acter referred to, it would be difficult to as- 
sert. Certain it is, however, that the great 
majorit}' of those who actively engage in 
purchasing, driving and shipping live stock 
to the commercial centers of the country 
would never be called upon to impart in- 
structions in good breeding to the pupils 
of a young ladies' seminary. In this as in 
all other things there are some very notable 
exceptions. One of these is George W. 
Cotton, a resident of Bluffton, Wells county, 
Indiana, the subject of this' sketch. His 
career amply shows that a man may be 
truthful, honest and moral in any respect- 
ive calling; in other words, that to be pos- 
sessed of the virtues mentioned, including 
abstinence, it is not necessary to become a 
theological student or a minister of the 
gospel. 

The Cotton family was one of the first 
families tQ locate in Wells county. It is 
now more than sixty-two years since 
Samuel G. Cotton and his good wife Dianah, 
who were natives of Holmes county, Ohio, 
decided to make their home in that locality. 
After investing in a number of tracts of land 
in Rock Creek township, he finally pur- 
chased the farm which has since been 
known as the Cotton farm and by the labor 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



191 



of his hands and the sweat of his brow, 
made it what it now is, one of the best im- 
proved and most productive pieces of land 
in the county. Here he hved until the latter 
part of his life, when he moved to Bluff- 
ton, where his wife died in 1895. His death 
occurred in Chicago May 21, 1902. He was 
widely known and because of his many ex- 
cellent qualities he possessed the esteem and 
regard of all who knew him. The county 
is largely indebted to him for its early devel- 
opment. 

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cotton, father 
and mother of George W. Cotton, were the 
parents of five sons and one daughter. 
George W., the subject hereof, was born 
August I. 185 1, and was the youngest 
child of the family. He was educated in 
the common schools of Rock Creek town- 
ship, later in the graded schools of Bluff- 
ton, eventually going to Marion, where edu- 
cational facilities were supposed to be bet- 
ter. Outside of the time occupied in his 
studies, he worked upon his father's farm 
until he attained his majority, when he en- 
gaged in business for himself, buying and 
selling live stock. He was, indeed is yet, 
what is termed in these latter days "a hust- 
ler," and the competitor who gathered in 
more animals than he did during the course 
of a year had to get up earlier in the morn- 
ing, move faster during business hours and 
prolong his labors later at night than the 
average stock buyer is in the habit of doing. 
His negotiations are conducted calmly, 
coolly and generally satisfactorily. He al- 
ways pays the highest price permitted by 
the conditions of the market and during the 
long and active life has paid to the farmers 
of W'ells and adjoining counties hundreds of 
thousands of dollars. At different times he 



was associated in business with his broth- 
ers, Cyrus and Frank, but for the last fif- 
teen years he has been alone. That he has 
been most successful is amply attested by 
the volume of business he has done. His 
shipments are made to Chicago, Pittsburg, 
Cincinnati, Buffalo and other points. His 
long experience both as to the markets and 
the "stock, have brought to him a penetra- 
tion and judgment that seems almost infall- 
ible. 

April 27, 1875, ^ii"- Cotton was married 
to Miss Josephine McDonald, who is a na- 
tive of Noble county. Indiana. To them 
have been born eight children : Bessie, the 
first born, is the wife of Hamer yic- 
Kinney ; Marshall S. ; Ralph C. ; Franklin 
F. ; Hazel D., and Ruby ; two are dead. Mr. 
Cotton was a Republican and always voted 
with that party until 1884, when he trans- 
ferred his allegiance to the Prohibition 
party, with which he has since steadily 
voted. He has on two separate occasions 
occupied a place upon the county ticket of 
the Prohibition party, once for sheriff and 
at another time for representative, but in 
\V"ells county they seldom elect to office any 
other kind of people than Democrats. Pro- 
hibitionists are especially obnoxious to 
them, hence it is unnecessary to say that he 
was defeated each time. He and wife are 
members of the Baptist church of Bluffton, 
are zealous in all charitable and Christian 
work and give of their substance quite lib- 
erally to every worthy cause. While a 
moral, upright Christian man, Mr. Cotton 
is not a long-visaged, canting, pretending 
personage. He is warm-hearted, merry and 
jovial, a man whose friendship you would 
be induced to court and whose loyalty you 
would never question in any emergency,-. 



[92 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



LEVI HUFFMAN. 

Among the enterprising men of affairs 
whose life and character are famihar to 
nearly every citizen of Wells county, the 
name of Levi Huffman stands out clear and 
sharp. Distinctly a progressive man and as 
such deeply interested in everything pertain- 
ing to the material advancement of the 
county, and the promotion of its industrial 
growth, he fills no insignificant place in pub- 
lic esteem, but on the contrary enjoys much 
more than local repute in the various voca- 
tions with which he is identified. Mr. Huff- 
man is a native of Wells county and the son 
of Henry and Catharine (Baker) Huffman, 
the father born in Clark county, Ohio, and 
the mother in the state of Pennsylvania. 
The father of Henry was Adam Huffman, 
one of the earliest settlers of Clark county ; 
Mrs. Huffman was the daughter of Adam 
Baker, a representative of one of the oldest 
families in the part of Pennsylvania where 
he lived. 

In 1840 Henry Huffman came to \Yells 
county, Indiana, and entered the land in 
Jackson township now owned by the sub- 
ject and at once began the preliminary work 
of clearing a farm. Up to that time the land 
was as nature created it and the first thing 
necessary was some kind of a habitation 
for the family. In a short time a log cabin 
of the conventional type was erected and it 
served the purpose for which intended until 
replaced in 1867 by a frame, one of the first 
buildings of the kind in the township of 
Jackson. When Mr. Huffman took posses- 
sion of his place the woods were so dense 
that a person going fifteen rods from the 
house was in danger of getting lost. To 
clear away such growth and prepare the 



ground for tillage required an immense 
amount of hard labor, but by patient endur- 
ance the forest gradually disappeared before 
the woodman's sturdy strokes until in the 
course of time nearly all of the ninety and a 
half acres was in a fine state of cultivation. 
Later Mr. Huffman added to his original 
purchase until his place included one hun- 
dred and seventy acres of as fertile soil as 
the county could boast, and the farm is now 
considered one of the most valuable pieces of 
land in this part of the state. He made many 
substantial improvements and soon took 
high rank with the leading agriculturists of 
his township. 

Mr. Huffman died on this place in the 
fall of 1883, just four weeks and three days 
after the departure of his faithful com- 
panion. This was his second wife, his first 
having died a number of years previously, 
after bearing him four children, Jacob, 
Catherine, Sallie and Peter, all living at the 
present time. The maiden name of the first 
wife was Elizabeth Eversole. By the sec- 
ond marriage, to which reference is made in 
a preceding paragraph, Mr. Huffman was 
the father of ten children, whose names are 
as follows : Frederick, George, Henry, 
Lydia, John, Samuel, Levi, Eliza, Eva and 
Mary, all but the last named living. The 
death of but one in a family of fourteen 
children after they had grown to the years 
of maturity is perhaps unparalleled in the 
history of any other family in the state. It 
is evidence of a strong and vigorous ances- 
try, supplemented by correct habits of liv- 
ing on the part of the descendants, all of the 
children being fine specimens of physical 
manhood and womanhood. 

The birth of Levi Huffman occurred 
October 20, iS^o, on the farm which he now 




MRS. LEVI HUFFMAN. 




LEVI HUFFMAN. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



193 



owns and occupies. He inherited a strong 
constitution and by faithful outdoor exercise 
early developed a vigor of body which en- 
abled him while still a youth to perform a 
man' labor at all kinds of farm work. In the 
winter time he attended the public schools 
of Jackson township until his twentieth 
year, spending the other seasons as his 
father's assistant in carrying on the farm. 
He commenced life for himself by working 
a part of the home place on the shares, in ad- 
dition to which he also rented land of his 
neighbors and in this way succeeded within 
a few years in getting a very good start in 
the world. He continued to live under the 
parental roof until his marriage, which was 
solemnized on the 31st of December, 1874, 
with Miss Martha Coolman, daughter of 
William and Mary A. (McKee) Coolman, 
natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Hunt- 
ington county, Indiana. Soon after taking 
to himself a wife Mr. Huffman moved into 
a little old log house on a forty-acre tract 
of land which his father subsequently pur- 
chased and during the seven years following 
he lived on this place and prospered in his 
labors. At the expiration of that time he 
took charge of the home farm for the pur- 
pose of looking after his father, who by rea- 
son of old age and infirmities incident there- 
to was no longer able to manage the place 
or attend to his business affairs. With fil- 
ial devotion and affection most commend- 
able, the subject continued to care for his 
parents as long as they lived and after their 
death he sold a piece of land in Blackford 
county which lie had purchased the mean- 
time and bought the old family homestead. 
Since taking possession in 1883 Mr. Huff- 
man has made the farm one of the finest in 
the township and, as already stated, he 
soon became one of the most enterprising 



farmers and stockraisers in the county of 
Wells. Among the many valuable improve- 
ments which he has made are a large and 
commodious barn, erected in 1884, and the 
fine modern residence, built five years later, 
besides the other buildings which every first 
class farm contains. At the present time 
Mr. Huffman owns four hundred acres of 
land, ail lying in the Indiana oil fields, and 
on this are forty-seven producing wells 
which yield him the handsome income of 
seven hundred dollars per inonth. From 
this source alone he has become a wealthy 
man, the returns from his agricultural and 
live stock interests also adding very mater- 
ially to the large fortune now in his posses- 
sion. Mr. Huffman is a careful and conser- 
vative business man and has made many 
judicious investments, all of which return 
him a liberal margin. He owns a half inter- 
est in a large business block in the town of 
Warren and a number of dwellings and 
other property in Montpelier, and looks for- 
ward to making still greater investments in 
country and city real estate. He is now 
chiefly engaged in looking after his large 
business interests, but devotes a considera- 
ble portion of his time to the breeding and 
raising of fine live stock, in which indus- 
try he has a wide and growing rep- 
utation. 'Sir. Huffman pays especial atten- 
tion to shorthorn cattle, of which he keeps 
on hand a herd of from twenty-fi\^e 
to thirty-five, all first-class animals, many 
of them representing hundreds of dol- 
lars in value; he has also met with 
most encouraging success raising Poland 
China and Duroc breeds of hogs, supplying 
many of his neighbors and others with this 
valuable stock, besides marketing a large 
number every year, thus materially increas- 
ing his income. 



194 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



\\'ith all his success as a farmer and busi- 
ness man, Mr. Huffman is quiet and unas- 
suming in demeanor, having no desire to 
boast of his achievements, realizing that 
worldly wealth does not constitute truest 
riches. In the best sense of the term he is 
a Christian and as such looks upon material 
possession only as a means of accomplish- 
ing good among his fellow men. A number 
of years ago he united with the German 
Baptist church and began that religious life 
which has since characterized him and he is 
now one of the most active workers in the 
congregation with which he worships. His 
wife is also a member of the same com- 
munion and in many ways has demonstrated 
her faith in good works among those with 
whom she mingles. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman 
have been kind and charitable to the worthy 
poor and no legitimate enterprise for the 
moral advancement of the community has 
ever appealed for their assistance in vain. 
They are highly esteemed by the people of 
their neighborhood and those who know 
them best are the most profuse in their 
praise. Mr. Huffman reads much and has 
decided opinions on the leading questions of 
the day. He has been a pronounced Demo- 
crat all his life and takes an active interest 
in local and general politics, never missing 
an election, unless unavoidably detained, nor 
hesitating to express his opinions upon the 
questions at issue. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman 
has been blessed with two children, the older 
of whom is Ardella, now the wife of Watson 
Hayward, who lives on the subject's farm 
in Huntington county; Josephine A., the 
younger, married Daniel Roscoe Hardman 
and lives with her parents, her husband hav- 
ing charge of the home farm. Mr. Huffman 



has in his possession an old parchment deed, 
dated August 5, 1837, and bearing the sig- 
nature of President Martin Van Buren. 



ISAAC MASON THARP. 

This enterprising farmer and ex-soldier 
of the Civil war, and a United Brethren 
clergyman, was born March i, 1846, in 
Wells county, Indiana, on the farm now oc- 
cupied by Amos Tharp. 

A. B. Tharp, father of Isaac M. Tharp, 
was a native of Virginia and was born June 
12, 1820. His parents died in Virginia 
when he was but a lad, his father, mother 
and only brother dying within one week of 
each other, leaving A. B. alone in the w'orld 
at the age of nine years. He was brought 
by a Mr. Shaw to Ohio, where he was taken 
in charge by a distant relative and reared to 
manhood in Darke county. When he had 
attained his majority he came to Indiana 
and about 1841 or 1842 married Miss Irena 
Ricketts, a daughter of Mrs. Hannah Rick- 
etts, and at once entered forty acres of the 
land now owned by his son, A. S. Tharp. 
This land he paid for by day labor at the 
rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per 
acre, cleared it up, built a log cabin, and 
also assisted in clearing off the brush to 
make way for the construction of the present 
Warren and Hartford gravel road. This 
was in the pioneer days, when market towns 
were far apart, and on one occasion he was 
obliged to travel eighty-two miles on horse- 
back to secure a sack of corn meal, and 
was glad to get it even at that great dis- 
advantage. Both A. B. and Irena Tharp 
passed the remainder of life on this farm, 




REV. ISAAC M. THARP. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



195 



A. B. dying January 27, 1871. and Irena 
March 21, 1889. 

To the marriage of A. B. and Irena 
Tharp were born the large family of four- 
teen children, as follows: Elizabeth J., who 
died in infancy; William H., who enlisted 
in the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry in 1861 and died of lung fever while 
in the service; Hannah M., widow of 
Samuel M. Click ; I. M., the subject proper 
of this biographical record; John W., a me- 
chanic of Jackson township; Mary C, wife 
of J. W. Bachelor, of Bluffton; R. R., now 
residing in Sidney. Colorado; Jonas G., of 
Jackson township. Wells county. Indiana ; 
Berthina, deceased, wife of James Ruble; 
Lucy S.. now Mrs. J. Lambert, of New 
Albany. Indiana; Sarah F., deceased; Ezra, 
deceased ; Amos S., on the old homestead, 
and M. JNI., on a farm of his own in Jackson 
township. 

Isaac M. Tharp recei\'ed his primary 
education in district school No. 4. of 
Jackson township, which he attended until 
eighteen years of age, when, on his birth- 
day, he was mustered into the service as a 
member of Company A, Forty-seventh In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, in which he en- 
listed in February, 1864, under Col. John 
A. McLaughlin and Capt. E. Y. Sturges, 
of Blnffton. ]\Ir. Tharp served in the ex- 
jiedition up the Red river from start to 
finish, was in fourteen different engage- 
ments in all, including the sieges of Fort 
Blakely, Alabama, and Spanish Fort, in the 
same state, in the rear of Mobile, where he 
was under fire fourteen days, and had to 
mine or dig all the way before getting with- 
in speaking distance and in forcing the 
enemy to succumb. Mr. Tharp caught a 
severe cold, caused bv wet clothes, but was 



in the hospital only four days and three 
nights during his entire term of service., but 
during these four days suffered from an ex- 
cruciating earache, and still feels the effects 
of the attack, being somewhat dull of hear- 
ing. He was honorably mustered out No- 
vember 2^, 1865, about six months after 
the war had closed. 

On his return from the war. ^Ir. Tharp 
engaged in carpenter work with his father. 
January 14, 1869, he married Miss Mary 
A. Runkle, who was born August 22, 1843, 
in Perry county. Ohio, a daughter of Jere- 
miah and Anna (Leonard) Runkle, the for- 
mer a native of Ohio and the latter of 
France. Mr. and Mrs. Runkle were mar- 
ried in Perry county, Ohio, and soon after- 
wards settled in Wells county, Indiana, and 
had born to them eleven children, viz : Mary 
A., now Mrs. I. M. Tharp; Alphens, de- 
ceased; Charles, a mechanic in Jackson 
township; Maggie, wife of Samuel Griffith; 
Frances, married to Commodore Alexander ; 
Matthew, a resident of Dundee, Indiana; 
Peter, in Jersey City, New Jersey ; Ella, de- 
ceased; Clara, wife of Henry Blake, of 
Hartford City, Indiana; Alma, married to 
William Rhoads, of Santa Fe, Ohio ; Albert, 
deceased. Of this family of eleven children 
there is a difference of twenty-two years 
between the birth of the eldest and that of 
the youngest, both of whom were born on 
the same day of the month. 

Isaac M. Tharp at his marriage settled 
on forty acres of land, now owned by Mrs. 
Compton. He had saved five hundred dol- 
lars while in the army and this money had 
been handled li)- his father, who made the 
investment and had the land deeded to the 
son. Isaac M. cleared up thirty acres, which 
he placed under cultivation, but his inclina- 



196 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'\NA. 



tion was more toward carpenter work than 
toward farm work, so he sold his farm in 
March, 1876, went to Hartsville, Bartholo- 
mew connt_y, Indiana, entered the college 
at that place, and was graduated three years 
later in theology. He then became a mem- 
ber of the White River conference in 1877, 
but it was not until 1879 that he entered 
upon active ministerial work. The first year 
of his ministry was in Clifty circuit and the 
second year in Fall creek circuit, about fifty 
miles from his home. One Friday after- 
noon lie left his home to keep an appoint- 
ment the following Sunday, and when with- 
in a half mile of his destination his horse 
ran away, throwing Mr. Tharp from his 
cart. This disaster occurred September 5, 
1880, and in the fall of that year Mr. Tharp 
had one leg broken and the ankle joint in 
the other leg dislocated. On the 21st day 
of the same month the broken leg was ampu- 
tated and on October 13 a second amputa- 
tion was found to be necessary. These 
operations confined him to his bed for four 
months and it was thought by the physician 
last in attendance that death would be the 
result, but Mr. Tharp eventually recovered. 
Mr. Tharp next spent two years in 
Honey Creek circuit and then came to Sala- 
monie circuit in Wells county and here pass- 
ed two years, when he was elected presid- 
ing elder of Marion district for the same 
length of time : he was next on the Indian- 
apolis district for two years and then on the 
Dublin district for one year. He then went 
to the Williamsburg circuit of Wayne 
county, was next in the Salamonie circuit 
and was then re-elected presiding elder, in 
the meantime having officiated in the In- 
dianapolis and Dublin districts. He then 
was assigned to the Fairmount circuit, and 
later to the Hartford circuit, from which he 



retired to his farm in 1898, but still preaches 
about twice each month. 

Mr. Tharp's farm comprises forty acres, 
but this he rents out, as he has five very fair 
oil wells on his premises, the product of 
which, in forty-one months, sold for thirty- 
one thousand three hundred dollars and are 
now yielding him about seventy-five dollars 
per month. 

Rev. Tharp seems to have been a victim 
to accidental occurrences. Once while on 
his way from Honey Creek circuit to Sala- 
monie circuit his horse, at nine o'clock at 
night, took fright, backed off a bridge and 
fell a distance of fifteen feet, but provident- 
ially the rider escaped injury. Beside the 
serious injuries alluded to, Rev. Tharp has 
been in two railroad accidents, was on a 
steamboat when it sank, and on another 
when its boiler exploded, has fallen from 
several houses and once, when a boy, fell 
thirty feet from the limb of a hickory tree, 
but in every case was miracuously a'nd ap- 
l)aiently providentially saved for the useful 
life in the Master's vineyard which he has 
since led. 

To the marriage of Rev. Tharp have 
been born si.x children, viz : Charles, de- 
ceased; W. M., a pumper, who married 
Sallie Ritchie; Aurie A., wife of Charles 
Compton, a farmer of Jackson township, to 
whom she has borne five children, Clarence, 
Clinton, Effie, Josie, deceased, and Sylvia 
Bertha, deceased; Milton W., a pumper, 
married Minnie Williams, who has borne 
him three children, Vance, Treva and 
Audrey; the sixth child, Lizzie I., was the 
wife of Harvey Kline, but she is now de- 
ceased. 

In politics the Rev. Mr. Tharp has al- 
ways been of Republican proclivities, but 
has never been very aggressive. 



WELLS COUNTY, n\DL-\NA. 



197 



PERRY KILANDER. 

Perry Kilander was liorn June 10, 
1823. in Brown county, Ohio. He was a 
son of Jacob Kilander, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, whose ancestors were originally 
from Holland, and Polly Dillman Kilander, 
a native of the state of Kentucky. After 
their marriage they settled in Kentucky, 
later going to Brown county, Ohio, and 
from there they removed to Jackson town- 
ship, ^^'ells county, Lidiana, where they 
remained until death. Jacob was the father 
of seven children, the subject being the only 
one now living, at the age of eighty years. 
David, Dillman, Sarah, Sina and Calvin are 
all deceased. The subject attended school 
in Brown county, Ohio, on days which were 
too bad to work.. He began working for 
himself when he was about twenty-one years 
of age, remaining with his father and work- 
ing out, etc. At the age of twenty-three, 
on JMarch 17, 1846, he was married to Sar- 
ah Jane Martin, born in Brown county, 
Ohio, in November, 182 1, a daughter of 
George and Mary (Myers) Martin. After 
his marriage the subject began farming in 
Brown county, Ohio, remaining there five 
years, when he remi:i\ed to Wells county, 
Indiana, and purchased two hundred and 
eighty acres of unimproved land which he 
and a farm hand cleared up and iinproved. 
He afterward divided his land among his 
children, reserving eighty acres for himself. 
He has devoted his entire life to the inter- 
ests of farming. His faithful wife and 
helpmeet died March 14, 190 1. He is the 
father of twelve children, ten of whom are 
yet living: Polly M., born January 17, 
1847, is the wife of Canada Griffith and 
they have three living children; the second 



child of the subject, Sarah E., was born 
August 28, 1848, and died November 14, 
1900: the third, Maria E., born March 2, 
1850, is the wife of John Verneder; Calvin 
v., born February 17, 1852, deceased; Wil- 
liam D.. born November 26, 1853, now re- 
siding in Kansas City; Montre C, born 
December 19, 1857, the wife of John Lee; 
Charlotte O., born November 19, 1858, the 
wife of Phanuel Mclntyre: Robert A., born 
March 2t,. 1861 ; Rebecca A., born Septem- 
ber 18, 1863, wife of Warner Welch ; Jacob 
M., born January 17. 1866; Emma R., born 
October 8, 1868, wife of Keaver Risinger, 
and John E., born December 28, 1872. 

Mr. Kilander has been a general stock 
farmer all his life, devoting his time dis- 
tinctly to his farming afTairs and has never 
taken an active interest in politics. In the 
person of the venerable subject we have 
a personage who has attained an age be- 
yond that of the most of his contempor- 
aries. Born in the first quarter of the last 
century, he has lived to see the wonderful 
development of the country and the applied 
inventions used as a means thereto which 
were undreamed of in his youth. He has 
been a pioneer of two states, aiding by the 
labor of his own hands in creating the con- 
ditions of prosperity which his environ- 
ments denote. He has lived to see the frui- 
tion of his labors in the days of his strong 
manhood in the possession by himself and 
children of the bounteous returns of the 
farms which he wrested so largely with his 
own hands from the virgin forests of a new 
countr)'. Those who have been witnesses 
to and aided in all the transitory changes 
which have attende4 our wonderful de\-el- 
opment will have soon gone hence, but their 
deeds will be enshrined in the hearts of com- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ing generations and sons and daughters will 
arise up on every hand and call them 
blessed. 



NELSON E. STAFFORD. 

Prominent among the enterprising men 
of Wells count)' is Nelson E. Stafford, who 
at this time is identified with one of the lead- 
ing industrial interests of the city of Bluff- 
ton. The Stafford family had its origin in 
Ireland and was first represented in the 
United States by the subject's grandfather, 
who crossed the ocean many years ago and 
settled in Pennsylvania. There he married 
and reared a family and it was in that state 
that his death also occurred. John Stafford, 
father of Nelson E., was born in Pennsyl- 
vania and at the early age of four years was 
left to make his own way in the world. He 
chose agriculture fur his life work and by 
industry and thrift succeeded in purchasing 
a farm, in addition to the culti\'ation of 
which he also earned considerable money 
as a plasterer. When a young man he mar- 
ried Miss L}'dia Eschleman, who bore him 
a large family of fifteen children, all of 
whom grew to maturity, five living at the 
present time. John Stafford provided well 
for those dependent upon him and assisted 
his children by every means within his 
power. He began life a poor orphan boy, 
but in time became quite well-to-do, having 
accumulated a competency of sufficient mag- 
nitude to place his family in comfortable 
circumstances. 

Nelson E. Stafford, of this review, was 
born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 
25th of March, 185 1. His early life includ- 
ed the usual experiences of country lads, and 



he grew to young manhood impressed with 
the idea that in this world no excellence is to 
be achieved without great labor. The farm 
is no place for an idler, as young Stafford 
early learned by practical experience. He 
assisted his father and older brothers with 
the work in the fields and of winter seasons 
attended the public schools, where he ac- 
quired suflicient education to enable him to 
pass the ref|uired examination and procure 
a teacher's license. After teaching three 
terms in his native county he decided to 
abandon educational work and turn his at- 
tention to a vocation more in harmony with 
his tastes and inclinations. In April, 1873, 
Mr. Stafford came to Indiana and entered a 
mill at Richmond with the object in view of 
learning how to manufacture flour. After re- 
maining in that city three years and becom- 
ing proficient at his trade, he changed his 
location to Wells county, arriving here in 
August, 1875. From that time until 1880 
he operated the flouring-mill at Murray and 
did a fairly remunerative business, but the 
latter year purchased an interest in the 
Quaker City mills, which he retained for 
about one year. Disposing of his share in 
the above enterprise, Mr. Stafford, in the 
fall of 1882, returned to Wells county and 
bought the Murray mill, which he had for- 
merly operated, and ran the same until 
July, 1902, when he became associated with 
David Eichhorn and G. A. Harnish in the 
manufacture of flour at Bluffton. Purchas- 
ing the old river mill in this city, they re- 
built and completely remodeled the struc- 
ture, supplying it with the latest improved 
machinery, making it one of the best and 
most successful enterprises of the kind in 
this part of the state. ]\Ir. Stafford has 
thoroughly mastered the art of making 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



199 



flour, as the superior brands which he now 
turns out abundantl}- attest. He gives per- 
sonal attention to every detail of the busi- 
ness and in order to meet the constantly in- 
creasing demand for his product both at 
home and elsewhere the mill is kept running 
at its full capacity. He has spared no pains 
to add to his efficiency as a miller, keeping 
in close touch with the latest improvements 
in the trade. 

'Politically Mr. Stafford is a decided 
Democrat and for many years has been 
prominent in the councils of his party at 
the different places of his residence. In 
1894 he was elected trustee of Lancaster 
township, which office he held for a period 
of five and a half years, proving a safe, con- 
servative and in every respect a most judi- 
cious and satisfactory public servant. While 
using his best endeavors to keep the levy 
at the lowest point conducive to the public 
good, he nevertheless did much for the 
township in the way of improving the high- 
ways, erecting school buildings and looking 
after other important interests. During his 
incumbency about eight miles of free turn- 
pike road were constructed, a fine graded 
four-room school building was erected at 
Murray and a structure containing two 
rooms built in the village of Craigville. Al- 
ways interested in the cause of education, 
he did much to advance the standard within 
his jurisdiction, and as long as he held the 
office of trustee none but teachers of schol- 
arship and well recognized professional 
ability were employed in the schools of Lan- 
caster township. Mr. Stafford is a man of 
progressive ideas and stands for enterprise 
and improvement in all the terms imply. He 
discharges the duties of citizenship as be- 
comes an intelligent, broad minded, loyal 
American and loses sight of self if by so do- 



ing he can in any legitimate way subserve 
the public good. Every object calculated 
to improve the material, social and intellect- 
ual condition of the communit}- is sure to 
find in him not only a zealous ad\'ocate but 
a liberal patron, and to the extent of his 
ability he has ever been a promoter of the 
general welfare of his city and county. Mr. 
Stafford has many friends and occupies a 
conspicuous place in the confidence and es- 
teem of all with whom he has had business 
or social relations. He is an excellent 
neighbor, earnest in his efforts to make life 
pleasant to those with whom he mingles and 
stands deservedly high in the list of Bluff- 
ton's representative men. 

On the 7th day of June, 1879, Mr. Staf- 
ford was happily married to Miss Louisa J. 
Eversole, daughter of Jacob Eversole, of 
Wells county, a union blessed with three 
children, namely : Frank, born June 7, 
1879, was educated at the Northern Indi- 
ana Normal University at Valparaiso and 
the Marion Normal School at Marion, this 
state, has been one of the county's success- 
ful teachers, and is now with the firm of 
Stafford, Eichhorn & Co. ; Grace, whose 
birth occurred on the 7th of May, 1880, and 
who is now the wife of Samuel Brickley, 
\\-as educated in the home schools and at the 
Normal College at Angola; Roy, born Sep- 
tember 8. 188 1, is a miller by trade, work- 
ing also for his father in the city of Bluff- 
ton. Fraternally Mr. Stafford belongs to 
the Pythian brotherhood and religiously be- 
Iie\-es in the plain, simple teachings of the 
Christian church which takes the Bible 
alone for its creed and standard of faith and 
practice. He has held ■ the dual office of 
clerk and treasurer of the congregation wor- 
shipping in Murray, his wife being a com- 
municant of the same bodv. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



DANIEL ALSPACH. 

Daniel Alspach, deceased, was born 
August lo, 1842, in the state of Ohio. He 
was a son of Amos and Elizabeth (Fox) 
Alspach, who were natives of Ohio also. 
The grandfather was likewise named Dan- 
iel. Daniel, Jr., came with his parents to 
Wells county, Indiana, about the year 1852, 
entering the land now owned by Calvin Als- 
pach. Amos is yet living with his son Cal- 
vin, Elizabeth being deceased. 

Amos was the father of five children, 
one of whom is yet living : Elijah, deceased ; 
Daniel died May 5, 1893: John, deceased; 
Elizabeth, deceased, and Calvin, now living 
on the old home farm. Daniel Alspach at- 
tended the public schools of Jackson town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, until he was 
about eighteen years old. He then enlisted 
in Company A, Forty-seventh Indiana Vol- 
unteers, and entered the service as a soldier 
of the Civil war. He first enlisted on the 
25th day of September, 1861. to serve for 
three years, and re-enlisted as a veteran, on 
the 15th of December, 1863, being mustered 
out of service at the close of the war, Octo- 
ber 23, 1865. After his discharge from the 
army Daniel spent his time working on the 
farm of his father until his marriage, which 
event occurred December 25, 1867. On that 
day he was married to Henrietta Bevington, 
born November 3, 1850. She is a daughter 
of Reason and Catherine (Shadle) Beving- 
ton, both of whom are deceased. After his 
marriage Daniel and wife moved on to the 
farm where his widow yet resides, and 
where he died. He had saved money 
enough during his service in the army to 
purchase eighty acres of land in the woods. 
He cleared up and improved all this land 



before his death, which occurred May 5, 
1893. He left, besides his widow, four sons, 
viz : John A., born March 10, 1863, mar- 
ried Ellen Jones, and they have five children, 
Delphos E., deceased, Frederick H., Ray- 
mond E., Mable and Nelson D. ; Asa B., 
born October 19, 1870, married Mamie 
Card, is an oil pumper and a farmer in Jack- 
son township, Wells county ; Orville F. was 
born May 21, 1876, married Lizzie Stoler. 
and is an oil pumper in Blackford county; 
Daniel Clyde was born December 18, 1887, 
and is yet attending the public schools, being 
in the sixth grade, and a great reader. Dan- 
iel Alspach was a general stock farmer, de- 
voting his time entirely to the interests of 
his farming operations. Both himself and 
wife were active members of the Wesleyan 
church and were consistent Christians. 

In politics the subject of this sketch was 
a Republican and an active worker in the 
ranks of his party, taking a lively interest 
in its success. At the time of his death he 
owned eighty acres of land, on which there 
are eight oil wells. There are five tanks on 
the farm, which will run a hundred dollars 
per month. His widow, Henrietta, has 
fifty acres of land, on which there are five 
wells, both places yielding a profit in roy- 
alties on oil of two hundred dollars per 
month. 

September 20, 1896, Henrietta, widow 
of Daniel, was married a second time, her 
present husband being Benjamin Snyder. 
Daniel Alspach was a member of that great 
army of patriotic youth of the land whose 
pulses were quickened by the call to arms 
when traitors threatened the disruption of 
our country. With multitudes of others, 
he answered the nation's call ; relinquishing 
his schools and youthful aspirations, he 




fJOa^^^v^jjL y^Ju^a^cyiL^ 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



donned a uniform and marched away, a 
soldier of that invincihle liost wlio had 
sworn that the union of states of our coun- 
try must and should not be severed. Mr. 
Alspach participated in some of the heaviest 
battles of the Trans-Mississippi valley cam- 
paign, viz: New Madrid, Missouri, Port 
Gibson, Mississippi, the great siege of Vicks- 
burg and possibly witnessed the surrender 
of General Pemberton to Grant ; was also on 
the Banks expedition up the Red river and 
the battles of Fort Blakel}- and Spanish 
Fort and Mobile, Alabama. During his 
entire service he was never taken prisoner 
nor was wounded. Much honor is due Mr. 
Alspach for his long service for his country. 
After serving his country faithfully un- 
til its sovereignty had been acknowledged 
and peace declared, he proudly passed in re- 
view with that great army before disband- 
ment and returned to his home, from which 
he had been absent for more than four long 
and anxious years. Having demonstrated 
the stability and purpose of his life, as but 
comparatively few others did, by saving his 
money earned in the army, he returned to 
the peaceful pursuits of a husbandman of 
the soil. Purchasing unimproved land, he 
married and he and his young wife devoted 
themselves to the carving out of the un- 
broken woodland a home for themselves and 
the children that should bless their union. 
He lived the life of an industrious, peaceful 
and Christian citizen, performing all the 
duties relating thereto with a conscientious 
regard of the rights of others and an in- 
nate self indorsement of the rectitude of his 
own actions. He died at the comparatively- 
early age of fifty-one years, as a result, no 
doubt, of the vicissitudes and hardships 
through which he had passed during his 



army life. He has left to his children the 
record of a Christian citizen and i)atri(.)tic 
soldier, and it can be said of him, that "the 
world is better for his having lived in it." 



AMOS FRENCH. 



The l)lessing bestowed upon the com- 
munity in general, and the afflicted in par- 
ticular, by the public institutions of the 
state are not appreciated as they should be 
by the public. The institution for the edu- 
cation of the deaf and dumb has accomplish- 
ed a w'ork iji Indiana the efifect of which will 
live long after this and many another gen- 
eration has passed away. Two of the stu- 
dents of that institution, some years ago, 
were Amos French, the subject of this 
sketch, and Harriett A. Adams, who are now 
and have been for many years husband and 
wife, residing on a farm in Nottingham 
township, Wells county, Indiana. Without 
the instruction, learning and training re- 
ceived by them in that splendid school their 
lives would be far less happy than they have 
been and the field of usefulness they have 
occupied and so faithfully and efficiently 
filled would have been short of the service of 
two energetic workers. 

Amos French was born March 23, 1852, 
in Adams county, Indiana. His father was 
John G. French, a native of Dearborn 
county, Indiana, whose parents were Joseph 
and Eliza (Beach) French, natives of Mass- 
achusetts. John G. French was born on 
the 27th of November, 1S24, and his wife's 
maiden name was Mary Ann Heller. 
They were married February 22, 1849, 
and became the parents of one child. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Mary A., who married George Mow- 
ery. The first Mrs. French died De- 
cember 25, 1849, having enjoyed less than 
a year of married life. On March 18, 185 1, 
John G. French was united in marriage to 
Lydia Weist. To this union nine children 
were born, two of whom preceded their 
father into eternity. The others are Amos, 
Eli, Henry, William, Eliza, John and Hat- 
tie. Amos is the subject of this sketch and 
will be more particularly referred to here- 
after; Eliza became the wife of John Gentis 
and is now deceased, and Hattie married 
Jethro Potter. 

In December, 1835, Joseph French, pa- 
ternal grandfather of the subject, moved 
with his family to Wells county. At that 
time John G., father of the subject, was 
quite young, but he had early become fa- 
miliar with hard work and learned to en- 
dure privation and hardship common to that 
period and locality. He was strong and 
muscular, wielded an ax with giant power 
and had few if any ec|uals in clearing the 
land. No one did more than he did toward 
wiping out the wilderness and converting 
the land into beautiful farms. Industry and 
energy, coupled with an economy in no 
sense approaching parsimony, enabled him 
to become the owner of considerable prop- 
erty. When because of old age he began to 
feel the ravages of time he decided to divide 
up his property among his children. He 
owned some five hundred acres of land and 
of this he gave each son and daughter an 
equal share. For himself he reserved a home, 
with his youngest daughter, Mrs. Jethro 
Potter. There he remained until his death, 
which occurred on his birthday, November 
2j, 1897. His wife died October 18, 1895. 

John G. French was a man of wonderful 



memory and much intellectual ability and by 
dilligent reading had become possessed of a 
vast fund of useful information. He de- 
lighted to entertain his friends, particularly 
the young people, with stories of his early 
life and his experience in the days long 
gone by. There were few of his generation 
better posted on the current questions of the 
time than he and few could equal him 
in the discussion of any proposition. He 
was a lawyer, a member of the Wells county 
bar, but did not engage much in the prac- 
tice except in his immediate neighborhood 
before justices of the peace, where he won 
many signal victories. He was well known 
and highly respected in Bluffton and his 
children vied with each other in securing the 
pleasure of his company, even when age 
had greatly enfeebled him. The perversity 
and peevishness that generally comes with 
advancing years was unknown to him. 
Genial and kindly even unto the last, he ac- 
cepted the inevitable with a meekness and 
resignation that almost amounted to stoic- 
ism. Few men enjoy their old ages as he 
did. 

When Amos French was three years of 
age, through an attack of scarlet fever, he 
lost his hearing and in 1862, when he was 
ten years old, he entered the state institu- 
tion for the instruction of the deaf and 
dumb, at Indianapolis. He remained there 
ten years, until 1872, when he had completed 
his academic course in that institution. On 
August 14, 1873, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Harriett A. Adams, a native of 
Preble county, Ohio, born July 16, 1852. 
She was afflicted as he was and it was while 
securing an education at the state institu- 
tion that they became acquainted. Her 
parents were M. C. and Mary (Shewman) 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



203 



Adams. M. C. Adams was born in Preble 
county. Ohio, July 16, 1830, and was the 
son of Samuel and Emily Adams, natives of 
Massachusetts. Mary Shewman was born 
April 10, 1832, in Hamburg, Preble county, 
Ohio, and was the daughter of Christopher 
and Anna Shewman, also natives of Preble 
county. M. C. Adams and Mary Shewman 
were united in marriage August 31, 1851, 
in Preble county, located there and remained 
for six years, when they moved to Cincin- 
nati and remained there six years. From 
there they moved to Lidianapolis, Indiana, 
where Mr. Adams engaged in the wholesale 
business for four years. In 1861 they 
moved to Galveston, Indiana, where they re- 
mained until his death, which occurred 
IMarch 13, 1887. His wife Mary is yet liv- 
ing at the age of seventy years. She lives 
in Kokomo, Indiana, with her son Grant. 
To them eight children were born, viz : 
Hattie, wife of the subject of this sketch, 
to whom more particular reference will be 
made hereafter; M. J., a resident of Hamil- 
ton, Ohio; Alice, widow of James Cox; 
Florence, wife of Eddie Leach, of Fairmont, 
Indiana ; Daniel, a resident of Illinois ; Lin- 
coln : Grant lives in Kokomo and Susie died 
in infancy. 

When only sixteen months old Harriett 
A. Adams, wife of the subject, was taken 
ill with the measles. It was a most severe 
attack and for a time the life of the little 
one was despaired of. Fortunately she dis- 
played far more vital force than she was 
credited with and she recovered, but the 
faculty of hearing was totally destroyed. 
She entered the state institution for people 
thus afflicted about the same time that her 
present husband did. They were members 
of the same class and as they grew older and 



pursued their studies, Cupid made his ap- 
pearance and smoothly played his customary 
part. Both graduated from school the same 
year and the year following were united in 
marriage. The young people established 
their first home on an eighty-acre tract of 
land the same on w^hich they now live in 
Nottingham township. On this only about 
twelve acres were cleared. Their home was 
an old log cabin, twenty by twenty-six feet, 
and their barn was a structure similar in 
character. Now fifty-five acres of the place 
are cleared, well drained, fenced and in fine 
tillable condition. In 1894 they erected a 
very comfortable house and commodious 
barn. To the work of the farm Mr. French 
devotes his entire time, carrying on general 
farming, raising grain and feeding live 
stock. With Poland China hogs he has been 
very successful. He has one pig which he is 
inclined to look upon as a mascot. It has five 
toes on each foot, but it is not likely that 
they will "save his bacon" wdien killing time 
comes. His cattle are of the general class. 

To -Mr. and Mrs. Amos French four 
children have been born, viz : Dorothy, 
born November 7, 1875, widow of Elmer 
^^'ilIiams, is the mother of two children, 
Ralph and Raymond, the latter now dead; 
Ella, born March 25, 1878, married 
Charles Bierie, and they have one child, 
Elsie E. ; Bertha, born October 2~, 1883; 
Hubert, born December 12, 1889. All have 
received good common school education, 
are intelligent ' and capable, with none of 
their faculties in the least impaired. The 
wit of the family especially commends his 
parents for never having subjected them to 
jawing or scolding. 

The parents and some of the children are 
members of the Evangelical church and at- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL-VNA. 



tend service at Krepps. Mr. French has al- 
ways been a man of good habits, ne\'er ha\'- 
ing drank Hquor, chewed tobacco or smoked. 
As he wittily expresses it, he prefers a full 
pocket to being full himself. In politics he 
is an independent Democrat, favoring the 
national platform of that party, but in local 
affairs he votes for the man who he con- 
siders best fitted to fill the office. 

The loss of one of their senses has not 
pre\'ented this model couple from accom- 
plishing a splendid life work. They have 
reared and educated a family of four tal- 
ented, even brilliant children, have man- 
aged their business affairs most commend- 
ably and accumulated considerable property. 
In the world of silence with which they are 
surrounded, silent themselves, they have 
played their part most nobly, far better than 
many with faculties complete. Despite their 
afflictions, they can leave their posterity 
names well worthy of hemg honored and 
revered for all time. 



JACOB FREDERICK KREHL. 

The subject of this review has been 
identified with the more important interests 
of Bluffton for many years, being one of the 
prime factors in the city's commercial pros- 
perity, besides gaining recognition as one 
of her representative and popular citizens, 
facts which clearly entitle him to consider- 
ation in this volume devoted to the lives of 
Wells county's successful men. As the 
name indicates, Mr. Krehl is of German 
birth. His parents, Frederick and Cath- 
erine (Flukfelder) Krehl, were natives of 
Poppenweiler, Wurtemberg, and it was in 



that farawa_\- kingdom that the subject first 
saw the light of day, June 4, 1845. When 
Jacob Frederick was about nine years old 
his parents decided to better their financial 
condition b}' seeking a home in the Linited 
States; accordingly, in December, 1853, the 
family embarked and in due time reached 
the port of A^ew York, from whence they 
went to Mahoning county, Ohio, where' 
they remained until the spring following. 
In April, 1854, Frederick Krehl moved his 
family to Dekalb county, Indiana, where he 
invested his small means, amounting to 
about two hundred dollars, in eighty acres 
of land, the only improvements on which 
consisted of a rude log cabin and about five 
acres partially cleared. Here he lived the 
remainder of his days, improving a good 
farm and adding to its area until it included 
one hundred and twenty acres and meeting 
with that success and financial prosperity 
which the strong limbed, industrious, hon- 
est German yeomanry know so well how to 
command. He lived a long and useful life, 
provided well for those dependent upon him 
and earned the reputation of an honorable 
man and loyal, enterprising citizen. He 
died in 1892 at the advanced age of eighty- 
two: his wife, who had so long been his 
faithful companion and true helpmeet 
through life's rugged journey, is still liv- 
ing, having reached the ripe old age of 
eighty-six years. Frederick and Catherine 
Krehl had seven children, the oldest of 
whom is Catherine, formerly the wife of 
John Bohnenberger, but now a widow liv- 
ing in Noble county, this state; William, 
the second of the number, is a farmer living 
in the county of Dekalb; Mary, the second 
daughter, married a cousin by the name of 
Frederick Krehl and resides in Girard, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL-\NA. 



Ohio; Charles Hves in Steuben county, In- 
diana; Joseph follows agricultural pursuits 
in the county of Dekalb, and Elizabeth, who 
married John Hess, lives in Noble county. 

Jacob Frederick Krehl, the third in or- 
der of birth, was reared on the home farm 
in Dekalb county and there received those 
lessons of industry, economy and thrift 
which exercised such a controlling influence 
upon his subsequent life and conduct. He 
worked hard during the spring, summer 
and early autumn and during the winter 
seasons attended tiie country school, in 
which he acquired a fair knowledge oi the 
brandies which constituted the course. 
After remaining with his parents until his 
twenty-second year he left home and went 
to the town of Girard, Trumbull county, 
Ohio, where he engaged with a tanner to 
learn the art of making leather. From the 
start his services proved valuable to his em- 
ployer and the eight dollars per week paid 
him was at that time considered very liberal 
wages for an inexperienced hand. On be- 
coming more proficient his weekly pay was 
raised to twelve dollars, including board, 
and after remaining six years and demon- 
strating his ability as an industrious and 
skillful workman he was given a third in- 
terest in the business. The firm of Krehl, 
Houser & Co., of which the subject was the 
company partner, lasted four years, during 
which time it earned much more than a 
local reputation by reason of the superior 
quality of the different kinds of leather pro- 
duced and put upon the market. At the ex- 
piration of the above period Mr. Krehl sold 
out his interest in the tannery and coming 
to Bluffton, Indiana, began dealing in hides 
and leather, within a short time establish- 
ing quite a flourishing business, which con- 
tinued to grow in magnitude with each re- 



curring year. By close application and hon- 
orable dealing he laid the foundation of an 
ample fortune and became one of the enter- 
prising, wide awake and thoroughly up-to- 
date tradesmen in a city long noted for the 
progressive spirit of its business men. After 
continuing the hide and leather trade with 
success and financial profit until 1897, Mr. 
Krehl disposed of his stock and from that 
time to the present has devoted his atten- 
tion largely to dealing in real estate. 

Mr. Krehl was happily married on the 
nth of October, 1877, to Miss Maggie Er- 
ler, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth 
(Engler) Erler, whose birth occurred in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1855. 
Mrs. Krehl's father was a native of See- 
felden, Germany, and the mother was born 
and reared in Frauhenfeld, Switzerland. 
They came to the United States in 1853, 
settling first in New York, thence a little 
later mo\-ed to Philadelphia and from that 
city, in July, 1855, came to Wells county, 
Indiana, purchasing a home in Bluffton. By 
occupation Mr. Erler was a tailor up to 
i860, when he opened a grocery in Bluff- 
ton, in which business he continued until 
1888, when he had accumulated a compe- 
tence by industry and good management. 
Mrs. Erler died at Bluffton in 1892, aged 
nearly sixty-nine years, leaving one daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Krehk who was the only child 
born to her parents' marriage. Mr. Erler 
is still living at a ripe old age and enjoys the 
confidence and esteem of all who know him. 
Mr. and Mrs. Krehl have one child, Lillian, 
born April 23. 1879. The 29th day of Oc- 
tober. 1901, she became the wife of Eman- 
uel E. Moseman. a jeweler of Bluffton and 
a well known resident of Wells county, 
where he was born and raised. 

Since engaging in the real estate busi- 



io6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ness Mr. Krehl has made a number of suc- 
cessful deals in Wells county and elsewhere, 
meeting with gratifying financial results in 
this as in his former undertaking. His judg- 
ment is clear and seldom at fault, his discrim- 
ination keen and alert and his business trans- 
actions have always been characterized by 
honorable methods and fair dealing. He 
manifests great interest in the growth and 
prosperity of his adopted city, encourages 
all enterprises having for their object the 
building up of the community and is also 
a warm friend and liberal patron of move- 
ments for the social and moral advancement 
of his fellow man. His long residence in 
Wells county has won him a wide and \'ar- 
ied acquaintance and it is eminently proper 
to state that he is among the best known 
and most highly respected German-Ameri- 
can citizens in this section of the state. In 
1893 he built his present beautiful home at 
No. 2 1 1 West Cherry street, where he enter- 
tains his many friends with a generous old- 
fashioned hospitality which is greatly ap- 
preciated by all who share it. He is known 
as an intelligent, substantial citizen, belong- 
ing to the class that always builds up a com- 
munity and gives it character and stability 
from a moral point of view. Mr. Krehl 
represented his ward three times in the city 
council and proved an able, judicious and 
painstaking legislator, doing all within his 
power to promote the interests of the munici- 
pality, at the same time exercising due 
caution in the matter of public expenditures. 
In his religious views he subscribes to the 
Lutheran creed, his wife being a member of 
the Baptist church. Mrs. Krehl is a worthy 
helpmate of a worthy husband and deserves 
much credit for her faithfulness and sym- 
pathy in the management of the household 



and the execution of its multiplied duties and 
responsibilities. Both are popular with a 
large circle of friends and acquaintances 
^tnd to say that they are among the city's 
most estimable people is to state a fact pat- 
ent to everybody within the range of their 
acquaintance. It means much to have the 
good will of the entire community and few 
can boast of this mark of universal esteem. 
Honorable and straightforward conduct in 
every relation of life is the sure passport to 
such standing and these with other equally 
praiseworthy qualities have been among the 
more pronounced characteristics distinguish- 
ing this excellent couple. They have lived 
well, made the world better by their pres- 
ence and the future, both in this life and in 
the life beyond the veil, has nothing which 
need cause them a moment of anxiety or 
fear. 



ROBERT M. ENGLE. 

It is an axiom demonstrated by all hu- 
man experience that industry is the key of 
prosperity. Success comes not to the man 
who idly waits for fortune's smiles, but to 
the faithful toiler who works with cheerful 
celerity and sleepless vigilance and takes ad- 
vantage of every circumstance calculated to 
advance his interests. Such a man is Rob- 
ert M. Engle, a well known and highly re- 
spected citizen of Nottingham township who 
within a comparatively few years has 
worked his way from an humble station in 
life to a proud position among the leading 
farmers of his community, besides winning 
for himself a name which all who know him 
hold in the highest esteem. Mr. Engle is a 
native of Wells county, Indiana, and has 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



207 



spent all his life within its borders. He 
was born September 7, 1864, in the town- 
ship of Nottingham, and is a son of Isaac 
and Ann (Hopkins) Engle, who were 
among the substantial residents of- this part 
of the county. When a mere lad he was 
taught the necessity of honest toil as the 
only legitimate means of obtaining a live- 
lihood, consequently he grew up to the full 
stature of manhood imbued with the idea 
that idleness, if not a crime, is, to say the 
least, anything but honorable. When old 
enough to work to advantage he took his 
place by the side of his father in the fields 
and nobly did his part in running the farm 
and supporting the family. The district 
school in the neighborhood afforded him 
the means of acquiring a good practical ed- 
ucation and he attended the same of winter 
seasons until his twentieth year, making the 
most of every opportunity to add to his in- 
tellectual discipline. He remained at home 
as his father's assistant several years after 
reaching manhood's estate and it was not 
until his twenty-eighth year that he severed 
home ties and set up a domestic establish- 
ment of his own. Meantime, on the 13th of 
March, 1886, he was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Rosetta McClain, of Nottingham 
toAvnship, daughter of William and Emma 
(Fisher) McClain, and from that time 
until 1892 continued to live at home, 
getting little more than a living for himself 
and wife from his labor. In return for his 
filial devotion his father, in the latter year, 
assisted Robert to buy a farm of eighty 
acres, contributing one thousand dollars to- 
wards the purchase price, a sum which the 
son had much more than earned while man- 
aging the homestead and looking after his 
parents' interests. Only a part of the place 



was in cultivation when the subject took 
possession, but he has since cleared and 
otherwise improved the land until all but 
ten acres is susceptible to tillage. Mr. En- 
gle is a man of industrious habits and the 
result of his systematic labors is apparent 
in the fine condition to which he has brought 
his farm within the last ten years. He has 
put in many rods of tiling, to the great im- 
provement of the soil, built fine fences, be- 
sides erecting a comfortable dwelling to re- 
place the house destroyed by fire shortly 
after he moved to the farm. By reason bf 
the discovery of oil in this part of the coun- 
ty and the subsequent development of the 
industry, Mr. Engle's place has greatly in- 
creased in value, there being five wells on 
his land, from which he receives an income 
of over six hundred dollars per year. At 
the present time he does little on the farm 
besides superintending the work, now de- 
voting the greater part of his attention to 
pumping oil, which business he has fol- 
lowed more or less during the six years 
past. He also takes pride in the raising of 
fine live stock, a department of husbandry 
which has assumed considerable magnitude 
in Wells county and which promises to be- 
come more important with each succeeding 
}'ear. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Engle orig- 
inally consisted of four children, whose 
names are Howard, Esther, Edna and Har- 
vey, the first two deceased. In his politi- 
cal views Mr. Engle votes with the Repub- 
lican party and during campaign years 
takes an active interest in working for its 
success. He is identified with the Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to 
the lodge meeting at the village of Petro- 
leum. The qualities which have made Mr. 



208 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Engle one of the successful farmers and 
stock-raisers of his township have, also 
brought him the good will and esteem of his 
fellow citizens, for his career from the be- 
ginning has been one of well directed en- 
ergy, strong determination and honorable 
dealing. Endowed by nature with good 
mental powers and possessing the energy 
to direct his faculties into proper channels, 
he has become a man of resourceful capac- 
ity as the able management of his private 
afifairs and rapid advancement in material 
things abundantly demonstrates. Socially 
he is a most agreeable gentleman, always 
genial and pleasant in manner, a loyal 
friend, an excellent neighbor and as a citi- 
zen ranking with the best of his compeers. 
He has never been misled by political as- 
pirations to the neglect of his business inter- 
ests and has no ambition to gratify in the 
way of public distinction, wishing only to 
be known and recognized as a common man 
in the domain of private citizenship. 



AMOS SCHWOB. 



Amos Schwob was born in Germany, 
March 22, 1859. He is a son of John 
Schwob, a native of Germany, -born about 
1835, and Mary (Miller) Schwob, also a 
native of Germany, in which country they 
were married. They settled and lived there 
for a time, John working at the shoemaker's 
trade. When he emigrated to this country 
they were thirty-seven days out from Ham- 
burg, Germany, to New York, where he 
landed in 1861, with his family and without 
money. He managed to get enough from 
some one to pay their way to Columbus, 



Ohio, where John began to work at his 
trade, and Mary, by the week, to earn 
money to repay that which he had borrowed 
to pay their way to that place. They re- 
mained in Columbus, Ohio, awhile, when 
they moved to a town in Fairfield county, 
Ohio. Here Mr. Schwob worked at his 
trade until about 1865, when they came to 
Huntington county, Indiana. He then 
rented Daniel Burman's farm and began 
farming, the owner of the land living at the 
time in Ohio. Mr. Schwob had met him 
while there, and in this way he became a 
resident of Huntington county. He trav- 
eled from Ohio to his destination in Indiana 
by wagon, arriving here during war times. 
After arriving in Huntington county he 
worked at his trade, also farming, which 
he continued more or less until about 1877. 
He then bought three acres of land, three 
miles north of Warren, Indiana, and built a 
log house on it. After owning that for 
about five years, he sold it, and bought for- 
ty-eight acres of the old Alexander Morgan 
farm in Huntington county. Later on he 
added twenty acres adjoining, and is now 
living on this farm. Mary having died about 
1889, Mr. Schwob married Adeline Heenen- 
berger. To his marriage twelve children 
have been born, six of whom are yet alive : 
Amos; Mary, who is the wife of William J. 
Ellerman, a farmer of Huntington county, 
Indiana ; John, deceased ; Rosina is the wife 
of Augustus Ballhoffer, and they reside in 
Grant county, Indiana ; an infant, deceased ; 
Katherine, the wife of Leopold Ruef, a resi- 
dent of Huntington county ; Willie, de- 
ceased; Agnes, burned to death in child- 
hood ; Charlie, deceased ; Henry, a resident 
of Huntington county, Indiana; Luella is 
the wife of Harrv Posev, and thev are resi- 





^\ 




/ 


T^ 


» ^ 


i?^ 




mBiI^^ jH 






HI-<^"\ ''n 






iBl^tSSHK '' IH 




mm 



RESIDENCE OF AMOS SCHWOB. 




AMOS SCHWOB'S FIRST RESIDENCE. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



209 



dents of Marion, Indiana, and an in- 
fant, deceased. When John Schwob start- 
ed life he had nothing and after coming to 
Indiana he had much sickness in his family, 
ague and other diseases incident to a new 
country. 

Amos Schwob was nine years old before 
he could speak English. Soon after coming 
to Huntington county, his mother decided 
that her son should have some schooling. 
She accordingly made him ready and pro- 
ceeded to take him to school herself, he cry- 
ing all the time on the way. At that time 
three months was the longest and only term 
taught in the common school during the 
year. Amos had to learn to speak English, 
and it was three years before he made much 
headway in his mastery of the common 
branches taught in the schools. He attended 
his last term of school when he was sixteen 
years old. Being the oldest in the family of 
children, he did not get more than two 
months schooling in each year during the 
time of his attendance in the district school. 
He is now a fair scholar, having picked up a 
great deal of scholastic knowledge since his 
school days, and speaks both the German 
and English languages fluently. Amos re- 
mained at home until he was eighteen years 
old, at which time his father told him he did 
need him any longer at home and that he 
might work out. The subject then engaged 
himself to Kale Wylie for nine months' 
work, but while he was gone to make his 
contract his father rented thirty acres more 
land for a corn crop and he found upon his 
return that his father had made arrange- 
ment to keep him home, consequently 
he had to break the contract for work which 
he had already made. In the new arrange- 
ment which he made with his father, the lat- 



ter was to give him a team of horses and a 
set of harness and a wagon if the son would 
remain at home until he was twenty-one 
years of age. January i, 1880, Amos was 
married, being at that time a few months 
under twenty-one years old. He got the team 
promised by his father, and took, instead of 
a wagon, a buggy- and harness. He still 
has one of the horses received from his 
father, which is now more than twenty-five 
years old. His wife, before her marriage, 
was Ella Wharton, born July 29, 1862, in 
Montgomery county, Ohio. She is a daugh- 
ter of Mark and Minerva (Dyke) Wharton, 
natives of Ohio, and she was born in Mont- 
gomery county, that state. They came to 
Huntington county, Indiana, about the year 
1870, and both of them are still living in 
Warren, Indiana. Mark Wharton has de- 
voted his life to farming. He is the father 
of three children, Charlie, a resident of Gas 
City, Indiana, is a minister in the Church of 
Christ; Florence, the wife of Peter Lines, 
a resident uf Huntington county, Indiana, 
and Ella, wife of Amos Schwob. 

After their marriage, Amos Schwob and 
his wife went over to the Wabash river and 
rented the "Holt" place, a farm of one hun- 
dred and eighty acres. All they had was 
a team and the clothes which they wore. In 
the fall of 1879 Amos and his brother-in- 
law, William J. Ellerman, had rented this 
place and put in a wheat crop. He was not 
thinking of marriage at that time, but see- 
ing a good chance to start in life, he and 
Ella Wharton decided to consummate their 
union at once. While they were very poor, 
yet they were contented with their lot, and 
especially with themselves. They remained 
on this farm for three years, when he rented 
a farm from John Roach, but after putting 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



out a wheat crop on the farm, he sold his 
interest. He then traded his buggy and set 
of double harness which his father had given 
him, for a first payment on the purchase of 
forty acres of land and moved onto that. 
After remaining on this land for one sum- 
mer he sold his forty acres for the reason 
that he could not, as he had intended, buy 
after awhile an adjoining forty-acre tract. 
It was so situated, however, that it could not 
be sold. For that reason he did not desire 
to keep his tract ; added to this was the fact 
that he was making four hundred dollars in 
the deal, which of itself was no small incen- 
ti\e. He then moved on to the farm owned 
by his father-in-law, an eighty-acre tract, 
and was there for two years. He then 
bought eighty acres in Wells county, Indi- 
ana, where he now lives. 

In the fall of 1886, when he purchased 
this farm, Mr. Schwob assumed an indebt- 
edness of fourteen hundred dollars. At that 
time there was only a garden patch cleared 
on the land and the improvements in the way 
of building consisted of a log cabin only. 
He has since then cleared, fenced and im- 
proved it in everyiway, and he has now six- 
ty-five acres under a good state of cultiva- 
tion, having twenty-six hundred rods of til- 
ing on the eighty acres. Neither he nor his 
wife have ever had a dollar given to them. 
He now owns one hundred and twenty 
acres of land in one body which, with the 
exception of his woodland, is all under a fine 
state of cultivation. He says that he has 
worked night and day for seven years, but 
thinks if it had not been for the chicken pro- 
duction he could not have bought a postal 
card. After the oil lioom came on, he was 
a pumper for eight years. His farm is in tlie 
oil territory and his income from that 



source will average probably fifty dollars 
per month. During the last one or two 
years he has engaged in the breeding of 
shorthorn cattle; he had previously bred 
Poland China hogs, ijut at present he has 
a variet}- of the latter stock, including 
Duroc, Poland China and Chester White 
breeds. He also has a house and lot in War- 
ren, Indiana, and eighteen acres of land ad- 
joining the town site. He has devoted his 
entire life to the vocation of farming, yet, 
as he says, he could make a boot. The sub- 
ject of the present sketch is the father of 
three children: Artie E., born April i, 
1884, at home with parents, will take up 
high school work in Warren, Indiana: ,Vr- 
vie E., born April 19, 1889, and Eva E., 
born June 3, 1897. Both himself and wife 
are members of the Disciples church. Gen- 
erally speaking, he has been a Democrat in 
politics, warming up some and doing active 
work for his party during campaigns. Both 
his boys are in school and have done well in 
their school work, standing well in their 
respective grades. His youngest son will 
enter the eighth grade next year. 

In the personage of Amos Schwob we 
find the best type of the German American 
yeomanry and American citizenship, posses- 
sing in his make-up all the attributes of per- 
tinacious industry, patience and thrifty hab- 
its which characterize his German ancestry. 
He has risen from a condition of penury, 
through which his father struggled, sur- 
rounded by the adverse circumstances of an 
ignorance of our language and the serious 
diseases incident to a new country, to a 
plane of citizenship and a position in the 
community in which he lives which does 
him the highest honor. His labors have been 
rewarded in the possession of a competency 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and he has pride in the progress of his sons 
in the schools, which so far surpass his own 
meager opportunities. His own and his 
father's success, as portrayed in the present 
sketch, afford a striking illustration of the 
rewards that await, not only the industrious 
and worthy emigrant from a foreign 
shore, but every citizen in our favored land. 



ABRAHAM SPEHEGER. 

Some begin their business career most 
auspiciously, others with every obstacle, 
including poverty, to be overcome. It often 
happens that the former lags in the race for 
success, while the latter forges ahead, each 
successive year bringing a newer and grander 
success. Of the latter class Abraham Spehe- 
ger, of Nottingham township. Wells coun- 
ty, Indiana, the subject of this sketch, fur- 
nished a splendid example. Born in a for- 
eign land, living there until he was twelve 
years old, then coming to America and 
working for his parents until he was twen- 
ty-one without compensation, having little 
knowledge of the English language until 
he was twenty, it could hardly be expected 
that such a }Outh would accomplish as 
much by the time he was fifty as the youth 
who began life's Ijattle under circumstances 
more favorable. That he has is amply at- 
tested by a brief sketch of the life of the 
gentleman to whom reference is above 
made. 

Abraham Speheger was born in Berne, 
Switzerland, August 4, 1842, the son 
of John and Fannie (Burkholder) Spehe- 
ger, both natives of Switzerland. With his 



family. John Speheger emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1854, locating in Wayne county. 
Ohio. He was by trade a carpenter and fol- 
lowed that calling most of his life. In 1862 
he and his family moved to Adams county, 
Indiana, and there the remainder of his life 
and that of his wife was spent. They were 
the parents of five children, viz : Anna, 
wife of Samuel Riff, resides in Adams 
county ; John, a resident of Lancaster town- 
ship, Wells county ; Fannie, deceased ; 
]\Iary, deceased; Abraham, the subject, who 
will hereafter be referred to more particu- 
larly. 

.Miraham went to school a number of 
years in his native land and after coming 
to America attended school here about three 
years. But the mysteries of the English 
language seemed unfathomable to him. His 
native tongue was spoken in the family and 
his busy life forbade him the privilege of 
learning English from playmates. He was 
twenty years of age before he could under- 
stand much of what was said to him and con- 
siderably older before he could make people 
understand him in the language of the 
United States. Thus handicapped, at the age 
of twenty-one, without a dollar in his 
pocket and a very meager supply of cloth- 
ing, he faced the world to win for himself 
a fortune and a home. His first employer 
was Christian Welty, for whom he began 
to work on the farm by the year, in W'ayne 
county, Ohio, and he worked for him seven 
years. He then hired to Henry Otis and 
was in his employ eight years. It was 
while he was working for him that he ac- 
quired the greater part of his knowledge of 
the popular language in America. They 
were educated people and one of his objects 
in hiring to them was to improve himself 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



in English. During this time he had given 
more than half of his earnings to his par- 
ents to help them along. Nevertheless, in 
1869 he had saved five hundred dollars and 
was tlie owner of a hopse and buggy worth 
three hundred dollars. While working in 
Wayne county he became acquainted with 
a young lady, Miss Rebecca Fritz. Her 
parents were Jacob and Eliza (Coulter) 
Fritz, natives of Pennsylvania but of Ger- 
man, Irish and Scotch ancestry. When 
they moved to Ashland county, Indiana, 
Abraham was neither happy nor contented 
in Wayne. The result was inevitable. Re- 
becca's bright eyes were the guiding stars 
to him and he, too, was soon in Ashland 
county. They were married March 17, 
1 87 1, the date (St. Patrick's day) doubtless 
being fixed out of deference to the Irish in 
the bride's composition. She was born in 
Pennsylvania, April 14, 1850. 

Soon after marriage the }'oung couple 
returned to Wayne county, where Abraham 
rented eighty acres of land, which he culti- 
vated for two years with the success that 
is invariably the reward of industry. He 
next rented one hundred and sixty acres 
which offered a much better opportunity 
both as to terms and extent. After remain- 
ing on this place three years he moved to 
another of one hundred and thirty acres, 
on which he remained five years. During 
all this time his savings were steadily in- 
creasing and he was approaching nearer the 
desired goal, i. e., a well improved, well cul- 
tivated farm of his ©wn. In 1881 he moved 
to Indiana, bringing with him about eigh- 
teen hundred dollars, every one of them 
having been earned by his own hard labor. 
For twenty-five hundred dollars he pur- 
chased one hundred acres of land in Harri- 



son township, paying seventeen hundred 
dollars and incurring an indebtedness of 
eight hundred dollars. He owned this place 
only about seven months when he got an 
opportunity of selling it. On this trans- 
action he made a small margin of profit and 
then purchased eighty-two and a half acres 
in Nottingham township, where he now 
lives. It cost him three thousand dollars, 
but it was improved to the extent of having 
upon it a good barn and nice orchard. He 
has improved it since by erecting a good 
house, commodious outbuildings, fencing, 
ditching, etc. He has also cleared twenty- 
five acres and has purchased a farm in Har- 
rison township of forty-six acres that is well 
improved and in a fine state of cultivation. 
He raises Poland China and Chester White 
hogs and shorthorn cattle. For a long 
time he made a practice to feed all his 
grain to his stock, but in later years he sells 
considerable on account of the uncertainty 
of hogs. All that they are possessed of, and 
it is no small or insignificant fortune, has 
been made by him and his faithful wife. 

Mr. and Mrs. Speheger are the parents 
of seven children, viz : Allen married Stella 
Nutter and lives on his father's farm in Har- 
rison township; Mary married John Bower 
and also resides in Nottingham township; 
John resides at home with his parents; Wil- 
liam is employed at Ruth, clerking; Anna, 
Ida and Fritz are still at home. They have 
each received as good an education as the 
district schools of the state afford. They 
are intelligent, well informed young men 
and women, with far better opportunities 
than their parents ever had and it remains 
to be seen whether or not they will achieve 
as much of success in life as have their par- 
ents. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



213 



In religion both Mr. and Mrs. Spehe- 
ger are members of the EvangeHcal church 
and are active in cliurcli and charitable 
work. He is a steward and a teacher in the 
Sunday school. In politics he is nominally 
a Democrat, but in local affairs he is never 
bound by party ties. In this, as in other mat- 
ters, he acts independently. He is a man 
of kindly nature and generous disposition, 
there being nothing selfish or miserly about 
him. His success is wholly attributable to 
industry and good management. He has 
a determination and firmness of purpose 
that will overcome exery obstacle. 



J. E. SAUNDERS. M. D. 

In no field of human endea\-or is there 
opened a wider avenue of usefulness than in 
the medical profession. The true physician 
is in many ways a benefactor of his kind. 
He not only ministers to the suffering by al- 
leviating pain and curing disease, but to 
him is intrusted the responsibility of labor- 
ing for the development of a higher and 
nobler type of physical humanity than that 
which now obtains. No one should think 
of engaging in this noblest of all callings 
without natural endowments of a high or- 
der, supplemented by thorough intellectual 
discipline and the most careful and critical 
professional training. With little appreci- 
ation of the responsibilities which it en- 
tails many enter the profession, but the law 
of the survival of the fittest proves that few 
reach the goal of success and become true 
healers. Among the successful class it is 



eminently proper to include the subject of 
this sketch, who, though a young man, has 
by proper preparation and conscientious 
fidelity to duty risen to a position in the 
medical world with many older in years 
and of much greater experience have not at- 
tained. 

Dr. J. E. Saunders, of Petroleum, comes 
of a medical family, his father, C. B. Saun- 
ders, being one of the oldest and most suc- 
cessful practicing physicians of north- 
eastern Indiana. Dr. C. B. Saunders 
is a native of Ohio. He married in 
Indiana, Miss Harriet ]\Iorrical. and after 
preparing himself for his life work 
took up his residence on a farm in Jay 
county, Indiana, where he spent thirty 
years in the successful practice of the heal- 
ing art. Subsequently he changed his 
abode from the county to the town of Penn- 
ville, where for about twenty-fi\-e years he 
has ministered to the wants of suffering hu- 
manity, being, as already stated, one of the 
oldest if not the oldest practitioner in that 
part of the countrj'. In addition to his pro- 
fession, he also managed a farm for a num- 
ber of years, but made agriculture merely 
a side issue to his labors as a healer of 
men. The Doctor has been four times mar- 
ried and is the father of nine children, the 
oldest of whom, a son by the name of 
George, has been lost track of, his relatives 
not knowing whether he is alive or dead; 
William, the second of the family, is a resi- 
dent of British Columbia, as is also Charles, 
the next in order of birth; Celia is not liv- 
ing; Jesse E., the subject of this review; 
Joel E. is a physician and surgeon practic- 
ing his profession in Nottingham township, 
Wells county; Belle is the wife of John Van 
Horn, a resident of Pennville, Jay county, 



214 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and Harry H. C, the youngest of the num- 
ber, lives with tlie father. 

Jesse E. Saunders was born Decem- 
ber 1 6, 1870, one mile south of Notting- 
ham. W^ells county, his mother, whose 
maiden name was Harriet Morrical, being 
his father's third wife. After attending 
the district schools until completing the pre- 
scribed course, he entered the high school 
at Pennville and while thus prosecuting his 
studies devoted the summer seasons to work 
on his father's farm. When a mere lad he 
conceived a great taste for medical liter- 
ature and every spare hour at his command 
he would spend poring over the books with 
which his father's library was plentifully 
stocked. -In this way and by assisting his 
father in the office he easily acquired a 
valuable practical knowledge of the profes- 
sion which proved of great benefit to him 
when he took up the study of medicine in 
regular course some years later. His 
younger brother, Joel E., was equally inter- 
ested with him in reading and otherwise ob- 
taining an insight into the mysteries of the 
h.ealing art. the two availing themselves of 
every opportunity to add to their knowl- 
edge, not alone by reading, but by tending 
tlie office, preparing their father's medicine 
case and not infrequently accompanying the 
latter on his professional rounds. Later the 
subject spent five years as a drug clerk, two 
in Pennville, two at Shideler and one at 
Poneta, and in this capacity became familiar 
with materia medica, besides acquiring a 
knowledge of practical business methods 
which has conserved a good purpose in his 
chosen calling. 

In the fall of 1893 Dr. Saunders entered 
the American Eclectic Medical College at 



Cincinnati, which he attended two years, 
and then finished his professional course at 
Marion, Indiana, beginning the practice at 
Hartford City in the latter part of 1895. 
The following spring l^e located at Pe- 
troleum, Wells county, and here he has 
since resided, meanwhile building up a large 
and lucrative business which has been as 
successful financially as it has been pro- 
fessionally. As already stated. Dr. Saun- 
ders grew up in a doctor's office, conse- 
quently he entered upon his life work with 
a confidence and self reliance which the 
great majority of beginners do not possess. 
This natural ability, supplemented by rigid 
professional discipline, peculiarly fitted him 
to discharge his duties and since opening an 
office his advancement has been so rapid 
that he is now accounted one of the most 
successful physicians and' surgeons in the 
county of Wells. He has spared neither 
pains nor expense in acquiring a thorough 
knowledge of his profession, as witness the 
fact that of his ha\-ing in the year 1900 at- 
tended the Chicago Polyclinic, from which 
he holds a post-graduate certificate, and re- 
ceiving in 1897 a certificate from the state 
board of medical registration which enables 
him to practice in any part of Indiana with- 
out further examination. His success has 
been commensurate with the ability and 
energy displayed in his practice and his pat- 
ronage today is perhaps larger and more re- 
munerative than that of any other physician 
of like experience in this part of the state. 
He is widely and favorably known in medi- 
cal circles throughout Wells and neighbor- 
ing counties and has a personal acquaint- 
cince with many of the most eminent profes- 
sional men of the country, among whom he 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



215 



is considered as rapidly coming to the front 
as a profound student and successful healer. 
He has been a member of the American As- 
sociation of Physicians and Surgeons since 
1897 and in this and many other ways keeps 
himself in close touch with the trend of 
modern thought relative to medicine and 
surgery, thus earning the confidence of his 
patrons. 

Financially the Doctor's success has 
more than met liis brightest anticipations. 
He has already accumulated a handsome 
competence and is well situated to enjoy 
life, owning the most beautiful and desir- 
able residence in the village of Petroleum, 
besides other valuable property, real and 
personal. Dr. Saunders is a great admirer 
of fine horses and gratifies his taste in this 
direction by keeping for his own use the 
finest animals obtainable. He has on his 
place a model barn, one of the most com- 
plete structures of the kind in the county, 
and he spares no pains in caring for his 
horses and keeping them in the best of con- 
dition possible. He also has a well equipped 
office, containing the most approved appli- 
ances used in the profession, a fine library 
of technical works and a large stock of 
drugs, representing at a conservative esti- 
mate considerably in excess of three hundred 
dollars. 

Dr. Saunders is a progressive man of 
broad and liberal \iews and maintains an 
active interest in all enterprises for the 
good of the community. In politics he is 
a Democrat, but so great have been the de- 
mands of his profession that he has never 
stepped aside to take a very active part in 
political affairs. Fraternally he is an Odd 
Fellow, holding membership with Lodge 
No. 721 at Petroleum. He was married on 



the 2 1st day of September, 1895. to IMiss 
Mary Wiseman, daughter of Daniel and 
^lary A. (Butter) Wiseman, the father a 
native of Pennsylvania, the mother born in 
Fayette county, Indiana. After living for 
a number of years in the county of Fayette 
these parents moved to Blackford countv, 
where they spent the remainder of their 
lives. They had seven children, w^hose 
names are as follows : Martha, wife of Bud 
Bowman, a resident of Montpelier; Mary, 
deceased wife of Alexander Johnson, of 
Blackford county ; Frank, deceased ; Charles, 
deceased ; Mrs. May Saunders ; Belle, the 
wife of Frank Pruden, of Hartford City, 
and an infant that died unnamed. Dr. and 
Mrs. Saunders are the parents of three 
children, Ralph. Delorme and Twilo, a little 
daughter, the latter being the only one liv- 
ing. 

The following memorial notice is here 
reprinted as being of special interest in con- 
nection with mention of the subject's chil- 
dren: 



Ix Memoriam. — Delorme Saunders, little son 
of Dr. J. E. and B. M. Saunders, was born August 
20,1899, ^"'^ died January 6, 1902, being two vears 
four months and seventeen days old, after a linger- 
ing illness of four and one-half weeks. Delorme was 
brighter than ordinary children of his age, and was 
loved by all who knew him. The last few minutes of 
his life, he knew something was wrong, but could not 
tell what it was. About fifteen minutes before he 
died he asked his father to take him. His father 
took him in his arms and the child looked up into 
his papa's face and said, "O, papa," wanting his papa to 
do something for him ; but the father with broken 
heart, could do nothing, and saw death clasp his 
little son. Then Delorme placed his arms around his 
father's neck and said, "Good-bye, papa," and all was 
over. The funeral occurred at 2 o'clock, January 7, 
at the United Brethren church at Petroleum, Bro. 
E. Polly officiating, and the remains were taken to 
Penr.ville and laid to rest in the Odd Fellows' cemetery. 



2l6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



WILSON HUDSON. 

Wilson Hudson was born on the stroke 
of midnight and it is yet an unsettled ques- 
tion whether his natal day should be cele- 
brated as the 9th or loth of July, 1836. His 
grandfather, being an old sea captain, claims 
that it is permissible to date back, but not 
forward. So, in accordance with his grand- 
father's dictum, this solution was adopted 
and he was named George, born July 9, and 
so recorded in his grandfather's record. 
After a few years his uncle Wilson was 
killed by a falling rail while climbing a 
fence and so his grandmother would have 
the boy's name changed to Wilson, born 
July 10, 1S36, in Clinton county, Ohio, and 
since that time he has been known and called 
by the name of Wilson. He came with his 
parents to Huntington county, Indiana, in 
1853. He obtained the rudiments of his 
education in the country in Huntington 
couiity. He remained under his father's con- 
trol even to the extent of not being allowed 
to call upon young ladies, until he was twen- 
ty-three years old. As an instance of par- 
ental supervision, he relates that upon one 
occasion he with his father were cutting rail 
timber on a day the evening of which the 
subject had promised to call upon a young 
lady of the neighborhood. Being afraid his 
father might interpose objections, the young 
man invented an excuse to escape liis lynx- 
eyed parent and account for his absence. So 
he left the measuring pole some distance 
back, and telling his father he would return 
for it, he hastened to the house to don his 
best clothes and seek the presence of his in- 
amorata. After he had started, he heard his 
father calling him, and his mother answer- 
ing, seeking to cover his retreat, as mothers 



will in such cases, God bless them, inform- 
ing him that the young man had "dressed 
and gone." The father's only remark on 
the occasion was, "Why in the devil did he 
not say he was going," which would indi- 
cate that in this case young Lochinvar's fear 
was the chief element to discourage love's 
young dream. The subject was married 
May 20, i860, to Margaret L. Corey, who 
was born in Rush county, Indiana, July 9, 
1838, the daughter of Stephen and Mary 
(Downard) Corey. After his marriage 
Mr. Hudson remained one year with his 
father, who still retained control over him, 
and even the second year after his marriage 
he could not say that he was his own boss. 
At this time he and wife moved to them- 
selves and rented land in Huntington county. 
He remained there for two" years, when he 
traded out and removed to the farm. where 
he now lives. In 1863 this farm was all in 
the woods except twelve acres which was 
chopped to eighteen inches. (It was the 
custom in clearing land in the early days 
of the state to remove everything under 
eighteen inches in diameter, deadening the 
larger timber by girdling, and farming the 
land, a few years before finally clearing it 
off.) There were thirty-seven trees lying 
across the fences surrounding this twelve 
acres. The improvements in the way of 
buildings consisted only of a log house and 
barn. He now has one hundred acres of 
cleared land with fine buildings, the house 
having been built in 1893. About 1880 the 
subject's father sold his farm in Hunting- 
ton county and moved onto a twenty-five- 
acre tract of land belonging to the subject. 
Here his parents remained for about ten 
years, when the son moved them into his 
own house where, after two years, the 




^ ^^^^..e/'J^ . ^-^ ^^ 



c^-t-^ 




^^^^^^^^-^^1^9^ (ro^X>t.-^{/i£ri^ 



\\^ELLS COUNTY, INDIANA, 



217 



mother died. The son then gave his father 
the choice of any room in his house he 
wanted. He chose and was freely given 
the bed room of the subject and remained 
with him the rest of his Hfe. He died very 
suddenly of heart disease at the home of 
Orlando Thorp, in Warren. Indiana. As 
is frequently the case, he had presentiments 
of his approaching end, and the changes at- 
tending the inevitable lot of all cast their 
shadows before. 

With the exception of three years dur- 
ing the war, which he spent in dealing in 
cattle, being known as a cattle broker, Wil- 
son Hudson has devoted his whole life to 
farming interests, and is also a general 
stock farmer. He has eight producing oil 
wells on his farm and says it is just like 
finding the money. The subject is the 
father of two children, both of whom died 
unnamed in infancy. Since then he has 
turned his attention to needy children, hav- 
ing at different times brought clothing for 
sixt3'-three children who were objects for 
the charitably inclined. To many of these 
children he gave the privilege of buying 
the kind of clothing they wanted. He 
always has from one to four orphan chil- 
dren around him and is indeed a father to 
the fatherless. He and his wife are both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and have served many years as live practical 
workers. 

Politically Mr. Hudson's affiliations have 
been with the Democratic party, and he has 
ever been true to church and party. Al- 
though many times solicited, he has never 
accepted public office. Believing that a 
public recognition of the Sabbath as a day 
of rest and worship would be conducix'e 
to the moral well-being of his localitv, he 



with others have petitioned that the oil wells 
be closed down on Sunday, but they have 
not yet succeeded in bringing this about. 
While the owners of the wells on his farm 
are pumping on Sunday, he has decided to 
donate his royalties of that duty to charity, 
and the proceeds of his Sunday production 
for the first year amounted to the sum of 
sixty-eight dollars and ninety-four cents. 
He is ever ready to lend a helping hand to 
the deserving poor, in which he observes the 
scriptural injunction in giving, to not let 
the left hand know what the right hand 
doeth. In the past four years the subject 
has aided four different parties (only one 
of whom was a relative) to the amount of 
fifty dollars each. Mr. Hudson thinks that 
he might ha\e been wealthy if he had been 
a guardian. If it is more blessed to give 
than to receive, surely the subject is rich 
in the consciousness of good deeds well done. 
He has realized the proper use of money in 
creating happiness for others, thus setting 
a worthy example to others who are cloyed 
with the sordid practice of accumulation and 
hoarding, with the delusive hope that in the 
possession of money alone is happiness to be 
found. 

Airs. Hudson, the wife of the subject, 
was a maiden of nine }ears when she came 
with her parents to Grant county, receiving 
her education in that county. She has seen 
this part of Indiana when it was new, even 
when the wolves howled around their cabin 
door. She is one of those good, kind, af- 
fectionate, motherly ladies, whom it is pleas- 
ure to meet. She and her good husband's 
hospitable home is a haven for friend and 
stranger alike. Many hundreds have par- 
taken from their bountiful table, and been 
cheered by the happy smiling faces of father 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and mother Hudson. Mrs. Hudson has 
ever been her husband's companion in all 
the walks of life, ever ready to cheer him 
by her sweet presence, advice and counsel. 
To show their wonderful generosity and 
hospitality it is said that one year thirteen 
hundred people dined in their home. 



HUDSON FAMILY. 

Twenty-five Hudsons, among whom 
were five Johns, came from England and 
Ireland in the year 1600, the principal por- 
tion of this number landing in Pennsyl- 
vania. They were given between three and 
four thousand acres of land for their trans- 
portation and taking allegiance to the old 
country. The Johns aforementioned were 
distinguished from each other by John 
Pond, John Delight, etc., according as they 
happened to live by a pond, or other appel- 
lations suggested by surrounding circum- 
stances. They described their land as fol- 
lows : "On north side of marsh of Wicom- 
ico." This is a .sample of deed: "John 
Hudson, 'John Pond,' thirty-four acres, 
surveyed October 9, 1674, in Dorchester 
county, on the north side of a marsh of 
Wicomico river." Dennis Hudson, great- 
grandfather of the subject, was born in Ire- 
land. Grandfather Selby Hudson was a sea 
captain, commanding a vessel during the 
Revolutionary war. He was on his way to 
some point with a vessel loaded with sol- 
diers, when he met vessels returning with the 
news that peace had been declared. He then 
moved to Rochester county, Maryland, 
where he lived for several years, still retain- 
ing the position of sea captain, and made his 



stopping place at his home at Snow Hill, 
from which place he removed to Brown 
county, Ohio. He constructed the first 
steamboat that was built at Cincinnati, 
Ohio. He had two sisters, Margaret and 
Hester Ann, and three brothers, Melvin, 
Eli and Elibu ; Eli died in Jay county, 
Indiana. 

Selby Hudson was twice married. His 
first wife was Hettie Davis and to them 
were born two children who lived, Thomas 
and Katie Ann. His second wife was Eliz- 
abeth Richardson, by whom he had several 
children. To both marriages were born 
twenty-two children. When Selby Hud- 
son came to Cincinnati, Ohio, he moved his 
family there. James W. Hudson was born 
in Maryland, his father later removing his 
family onto a farm in Brown county, Ohio, 
when James W., the father of the subject, 
was a small boy. Soon after his removal to 
Brown county, Ohio, James was sent on an 
errand to his uncle's. He started, wearing 
a new pair of trousers. It being a custom- 
ary thing in those days to wear long shirts, 
he hung his trousers in a tree by the way- 
side and thus dressed in the usual costume 
for boys of the period, he continued his 
journey, performed his errand, and return- 
ing by the same way, he repossessed him- 
self of the, what seemed to him, unnecessary 
part of his apparel which he had left hang- 
ing in the tree and wore them back home. 
Selby Hudson died in Clinton county, Ohio, 
at the age of eighty years ; James W. grew 
up on the farm in Ohio, and there met and 
married Catherine Sharp, a daughter of 
Stockdale and Mary Sharp. 

After his marriage James W. Sharp 
settled in Ohio, where he remained until 
1853, when he removed to Jefferson town- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



219 



ship, Huntington county, Indiana. About 
1885 he moved to Wells county and lived 
virtually with Wilson Hudson until his 
death. Catherine, his wife, died November 
I, 1894, aged eighty-two years ten months 
and twenty-two days. James W. died Aug- 
ust 19, 1899, aged eighty-seven years ten 
months and six days. 



AMOS GEHRETT. 



\\'ells count)- is characterized by her full 
share of the honest pioneer element who 
have done so much for the development of 
the county and the establishment of the in- 
stitutions of civilization in this fertile and 
well-favored section. A great work was ac- 
complished by the early settlers and it is 
granted by all that they builded wiser than 
they knew. Admit that as a rule, but few 
ever realized in the dimmest way the trans- 
cendant possibilities that rested upon their 
shoulders; grant it that their lives, in most 
instances, were somewhat narrow and that 
they realized but little the great results that 
ultimately crowned their efforts ; yet there 
exists the supreme fact that they followed 
their restless impulses, took their lives in 
their own hands, as it were, penetrated the 
wilderness and with a patient energy, reso- 
lution and self-sacrifice that stands alone 
and unparalleled, they worked out their al- 
lotted tasks, acomplished their destinies and 
today their descendants and others enjoy 
undisturbed the fruitage of their labors. A 
few of these honored old pioneers are yet 
living in the midst of the scenes of some of 
their former labors and are today enjoying 
the richly-merited honors and material re- 
wards which have come to them as the re- 



sult of their former endeavors. Among this 
class may be properly included the gentle- 
man whose name forms the caption to these 



Amos Gehrett is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, having been born in Berks county, 
that state, in 1822. His father, Henry 
Gehrett, was also a native of the same state 
and was immediately descended from Rev- 
olutionary ancestry, the subject's paternal 
grandfather and two of the latter's broth- 
ers having given up their lives on the altar 
of their country's independence. Henry 
Gehrett grew to manhood in his native 
county and was there married to ]\Iiss 
Susan Feon. For some time after his mar- 
riage he remained there and pursued the 
occupation of farming. Subsequently he 
removed with his family to Fairfield 
county, Ohio, and there also engaged in the 
same occupation. He spent the most of his 
life there, but his last days were spent in 
Wells county, Indiana, where he made his 
home with his children, his wife having 
died during their residence in Ohio. They 
were the parents of thirteen children, briefly 
mentioned as follows : Benjamin, de- 
ceased ; Lydia, deceased ; Elizabeth, deceas- 
ed ; William, deceased ; Peter, deceased ; 
Samuel died while in the military service of 
his country ; Amos, the subject : Sarah, the 
widow of Jacob Warner; Susan, the widow 
of William Kirkwood ; Deborah, deceased; 
Henry and Rosetta, twins, of whom Henry 
is a resident of Ohio, and Rosetta is the 
wife of Reuben Stout, of Wells county: a 
son who died in infancy. 

Amos Gehrett did not receive very lib- 
eral educational advantages in his youth, 
but attended the public schools whenever it 
was possible for him to do so and at length 
became fairlv i)roficient in the common 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



branches. As soon as he was old enough 
he commenced working for his father on 
the Ohio farm and remained under the pa- 
rental roof until he was twenty-two years 
old, receiving for his labor his board, cloth- 
ing, etc. About 1844' he came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and settled on eighty acres 
of land comprising part of the farm which 
he still occupies, his father having entered 
the land some time previously. His ma- 
terial resources at this time were quite lim- 
ited, possessing very little besides a cow 
and a horse. He made his own bedstead 
and such other furniture as was absolutely 
necessary with which to engage in house- 
keeping. However he was not at all dis- 
couraged, but, filled with ambition and en- 
ergy, he at once went to work to create for 
himself a home. He at first erected a small 
log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet in size, 
and the same season planted five acres of 
ground to corn. He worked for others 
whenever he could find work to do in order 
to obtain money and was also employed in 
the construction of the first railroad sur- 
veyed through the county. Meantime his 
spare time was steadily occupied in the task 
of clearing his land, which was eventually 
accomplished, and then, as rapidly as oppor- 
tunity offered and he had the means, he 
purchased other tracts. His first additional 
purchase was one hundred and sixty acres 
of timber land. He and his son cleared a 
part of this tract and he then disposed of it 
and bought another tract of one hundred 
and sixty acres which he gave to his son, 
Henry. Subsequently he bought one hun- 
dred- and sixty acres of the John Warner 
estate and also eighty acres of the Jacob 
Warner estate and forty acres belonging to 
his son, Henry. He is now the owner of 
three hundred and twentv acres in one bodv 



and also another tract of forty acres, all be- 
ing considered fine farming land. With the 
exception of eight hundred dollars which he 
received from his father's estate, all his 
property has been acquired as the result of 
his own industry and unremitting toil. He 
has carried on a general line of farming, 
and has also been engaged largely in the 
raising and selling of live stock, which has 
been, under his able management, a profit- 
able source of income. He breeds a general 
line of cattle, but gives special attention to 
Poland China hogs. He has been an inde- 
fatigable worker during all the years of 
his residence in this county, and his labor 
has been commensurately rewarded. He 
has, by a course of right living and strict 
attention to the ethics of life, won the warm 
esteem and high regard of his numerous ac- 
quaintances and few men in his locality 
have a larger circle of friends than he. 

In 1844 Mr. Gehrett was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah Hufford, the daugh- 
ter of Daniel and Sarah Hufford, natives 
of Berks county, Pennsylvania. She was 
born in 1823, also in Berks county, and was 
brought by her parents to Fairfield county, 
Ohio, where she formed an acquaintance 
with the subject, an acquaintance which re- 
sulted in their marriage. They became the 
parents of one child, Henry S., who died 
on the 3rd of March, 1894, aged forty-sev- 
en years, seven months and five days. He 
married Elizabeth Keller and to their union 
were born three children, as follows : Sar- 
ah Alice died June 9, 1892; Hugh L. died 
March 17, 1894; Amos died !\Iarch 16. 
1873. The subject has now no children or 
grandchildren living. 

Religiously the subject and his wife 
have been for a number of years earnest and 
faithful members of the German Baptist 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



church. PoHtically Mr. Gehrett is affili- 
ated with the Democratic party and votes 
that ticket on national elections, though 
in local electi<ins he votes for the 
best man for the office, irrespective of 
party lines. He has never been an aspir- 
ant for office, though soon after he came to 
Wells county he served for three years in 
the position of trustee and has also served 
two terms as supervisor. All movements 
having for their object the advancement of 
the public welfare have always received his 
cordial endorsement and his influence has 
been potent for good in the community. A 
\-oIume purporting to contain a record of 
the lives of the representative citizens of the 
county would be incomplete were there fail- 
ure to mention Mr. Gehrett. 



C. B. FUNK. 

The native Hoosier is as proud of the 
commonwealth of his birth as any man on 
earth. He has many and very substantial 
reasons for being so. It is a productive 
state; it is inhabited by progressive people; 
it has kept pace with its neighbors in the 
matter of material advancement ; politically 
it is the most liberal state in the Union, 
never being chained to the triumphal car 
of either political party: its climate is 
healthful ; its air is salubrious, and the op- 
portunities for individual advancement in 
Indiana are at least equal to those of any 
other. The only person who need not be 
ambitious to be a nati\-e Hoosier is the one 
who can lay claim to that distinguished 
honor as his birth-right. 

C. B. Funk, the subject of this article, 
is a native of the Hoosier state. He was 
born in Chester township, Wabash county, | 



Indiana, on the 26th day of January, 1857. 
He is the son of Samuel D. Funk and wife, 
Catherine (Burk) Funk, the latter a native 
of Ohio. The grandparents of the subject 
were natives of Germany; they were pros- 
perous and thrifty, and coming to Amer- 
ica at an early period, possessed of consid- 
erable money, they located in Huntington 
count}-, where a tract of nine hundred and 
sixty acres of land was purchased, out of 
which they carved enough land for each of 
their sons and daughters to make a good 
farm. Here his son, Samuel, the father of 
C. B. Funk, was married to Catherine Burk, 
daughter of Abraham Burk, and took up 
his abode upon the land granted him by 
his father. Finding a piece of land located 
in Wabash and Whitley counties quite to 
his fancy, he took occasion to dispose of his 
place in Huntington county, purchased the 
Wabash county land and moved his family 
thereto. A part of the tract extended over 
into Whitley county, but the house, barn 
and outbuildings were located in Wabash 
county. This was the birth place of C. B. 
Funk, and on this place Samuel Funk re- 
sided until his death, which occurred Janu- 
ary 2, 1892. His good wife, Catherine, is 
still living; she owns the old home place, 
but does not live upon it. pr^'ferring to make 
her home with her children. 

Samuel and Catherine Funk were the 
parents of ten children. Only one of the in- 
teresting group has passed into eternity, 
Delila, who died when four years of age. 
The others are J. B., Sarah A., George M., 
Oliver W\, Mary J., C. B., Elizabeth, Elen- 
ora and Ora. J. B., Oliver and Elenora are 
still residents of W'abash county, the latter 
the wife of H. T. Tillman ; Sarah is the wife 
of James Roadarmey and lives in Illinois; 
George and Elizabeth live in Kosciusko 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



county, the latter the wife of G. M. Rice; 
Mary is the wife of Rev. Samuels, of Eaton, 
Ohio, and Ora is Mrs. Warren Robbins, of 
Kosciusko county. 

C. B. Funk grew to manhood in Wa- 
bash county and attended the public schools 
until he was twenty years of age. So well 
did he improve his time that after passing a 
very creditable examination he was granted 
a license to teach. That calling, however, 
was not wholly to his taste. One term suf- 
ficed to convince him that imparting knowl- 
edge to the youths of the land was a calling 
in which others might excel. He ceased to 
have any ambition whatever for the acqui- 
sition of fame in that direction, as farming 
and stock raising were more to his taste. 
For seven years he assiduously devoted him- 
self to this labor, renting the old home place 
on the shares, thereby greatly improving his 
financial condition. 

On August 28, 188 1, C. B. Funk was 
united in marriage to Catherine Swank, a 
native of Wabash county. Indiana, having 
been born there March 17, 1861. She is the 
daughter of John and Fannie Swank, both 
natives of Ohio, but early settlers of Wa- 
bash county, Indiana. Fannie died in 1872, 
but John is still living, residing in California. 
They are the parents of ten children, all of 
Avhom are living. Sarah is Mrs. William 
Heeler : Susan is Mrs. Mike Snydeman ; Em- 
ma is Mrs. Mahlon Harmon : Mariah is Mrs. 
S. W. Heeter; these and their brother James 
all reside in Wabash county: Zacharia and 
Ambrose live in Miami county; Dayton 
lives in Huntington county; Catherine is 
Mrs. C. B. Funk and Frances is Mrs. Mort 
Kenard, of Kosciusko county. All are 
worthy citizens, highly respected in the var- 
ious communities in which they reside. 



Four years after his marriage C. B. 
Funk moved to Adams county, Indiana, 
where he purchased eighty acres of land, 
chiefly on credit. It was nearlv all cleared 
and fairly well improved. After twelve 
years of unremitting toil and commendable 
economy he found himself wholly out of 
debt, with a farm so splendidly productive 
and under such thorough cultivation as to 
excite the envy of many of his less indus- 
trious neighbors. The receipts from the 
products of this place alone were sufficient, 
not only to pay for the land, but to leave its 
owner with a comfortable bank account. In 
addition to his labors on the farm he de- 
voted much of his time, during the season, 
to threshing and to the manufacture of lum- 
ber and shingles. In 1898 he disposed of 
this land and secured a farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty-one acres in Nottingham 
township. Wells county, on which he now 
lives. Of this tract one hundred and five 
acres are cleared and under cultivation. He 
is still interested in threshing, owning one 
of the best threshing rigs to be found in 
that section of the state. At this time he is 
discharging the duties of trustee of the es- 
tate of his father over in Wabash county. He 
is also an extensive breeder of shorthorn 
cattle, Poland China hogs and Shropshire 
sheep. 

Mr. and Mrs. Funk are the parents of 
three children, two of whom are living: 
Artie B. was born February 15, 1886, died 
October 23, 1886; Flossie M. was born 
February 5, 1887, resides with her parents 
and has finished the regular course in the 
district schools of Nottingham township; 
Losier was born August 30, 1897. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Funk do not 
belong to the same denomination. He is a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



223 



member of the Evangelical church, while 
she belongs to the Christian church. This, 
however, does. not interfere in the least with 
the Christian zeal or work of either. He is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows at Lyn Grove and of the encamp- 
ment at Blufifton, and both are members of 
the Rebekahs at Liberty Mills. He is a life- 
long Republican in national and state af- 
fairs, but in local matters believes in sup- 
porting the man whom he considers most 
.worthy and capable. As a man, a citizen, a 
husband and father, the story of the life of 
C. B. Funk conclusively proves that he is 
and has been all that he should be in each 
and all of these capacities. 



MRS. FRANCES CLARK. 

Mrs. Frances Clark died at the resi- 
dence of her son, Matthew J. Clark, in 
Peachville, Butler county, Pennsylvania, 
on Monday, the 13th of June. 18S7. She 
was a daughter of Ignatius and Frances 
(McKiernan) O'Ferrall, was born at Mar- 
tinsburg. Berkeley county, Virginia (now 
West Virginia), on the 14th of October, 
1793, and had therefore passed her ninety- 
third birthday. Her parents were Irish, and 
she had inherited in a remarkable degree 
the nobler traits of the Irish character. She 
was the widow of Major Matthew J. Clark, 
who died at Morgantown, West Virginia, 
in 1859. eighty-three years ,of age, more 
than four-score years. Born back in the 
last century! ^^'hat an ocean of events! 
W'hat a sea of trials, troubles and tribula- 
tions she had passed over during her long 
life voyage! She had heard the patriots 



of the Revolution, when still comparatively 
young men, tell of Valley Forge, Quebec, 
the Cowpens and Yorktown. She had seen 
a brother, with the ardor of youthful patri- 
otism glowing in his countenance, march 
to North Point to meet "the British in- 
vader," and had listened to the cannon's 
roar in our second war for independence. 
She had heard the returning tramp of the 
victorious veterans from the plains of Mex- 
ico, and then had seen our land involved in 
internecine strife and bathed in the com- 
mingled blood of brothers; had furnished 
sons for the maintenance of the Union, 
and then lived to rejoice over a re-united 
countr}- — one flag and one people — and a 
restoration of fraternal feelings between the 
sections. She had witnessed the column of 
states run up from fifteen to thirty-eight, 
and the increase of our population from 
four millions to sixty millions, and infant 
weakness raised to giant power. She had 
lived in the days of Washington and had 
mourned with a nation over his death. She 
had stood at the graves of her parents, three 
brothers and a sister, or had w'iped away 
the teardrops as news of the departure of 
one after another reached her, until she re- 
mained as the only survivor of her familv. 
Children had been born to her and grand- 
children had delighted her heart, and her 
days had been so lengthened as to be blessed 
w-ith great-grandchildren. In all the rela- 
tions of life, as wife, mother, grandmother, 
great-grandmother, friend, she was the per- 
fect woman. Possessed of remarkable 
strength of character, equable temperament, 
amiable disposition and fine judgment, she 
impressed herself upon all with whom she 
was brought in contact and in the family 
circle her influence and example shed their 



224 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



benign rays and made useful citizens of her 
sons and exemplary women of her daugh- 
ters. Being of a bright, cheerful nature, 
her presence ever brought sunshine into the 
gloomy vaults of a heart depressed, and so 
self-sacrificing was she that she thought not 
of her own comfort, if she could bring ease 
to the suffering, rest to the weary or hap- 
piness to the distressed. But she is gone, 
full of years, leaving behind her many to 
call her blessed, many to revere her memory. 
Three sons and one daughter and many 
kindred, among these two nephews (Gen. 
John W. O'Ferrall, of Mississippi, and 
Judge Chas. T. O'Ferrall, member of con- 
gress from the Shenandoah valley, Vir- 
ginia), survive her. Should there be sad- 
ness over her departure? 

Ye are not sad to see the gathered grain. 

Nor where their mellow fruit the orchards cast. 

Nor when the vellow woods let fall the ripened mast. 

Should there be weeping over her 
grave? When her life's labors are done, 
and she has passed serenely to her final 
rest, and 

The soft memory of virtues yet 

Lingers like twilight hours, when the bright sun is 
set. 

No; but let those whose hearts are so 
deeply touched by the recollection of the 
now stilled voice that was ever as sweet 
music to their ears, and by the sight of the 
now vacant old arm-chair, and those in dis- 
tant parts who loved her, be enabled to say 
with true Christian resignation, "The will 
of the Lord be done." 

And we are glad she has lived thus long, 
And glad that she has gone to her reward; 

Nor can we deem that Nature did her wrong, 
Softly to disengage the vital cord. 



BUNYON J. WELLS. 

It is often asserted that the superiority 
of the average American over the individual 
of any other nation is due to the fact that 
the native of this country has the blood of 
many nationalities circulating in his veins 
and that his bent of mind and tendency of 
disposition is dominated by the best ele- 
ments of each nationality entering into his 
composition. The theory is probably cor- 
rect ; at least, Americans like to plume them- 
selves upon its verity. In that case Bunyon 
J. Wells, the subject of this sketch, comes 
by his good qualities very naturally. Eng- 
lish, Irish and Dutch are so beautifully 
mingled and tangled up in his composition 
that goodness must necessarily be his pre- 
vailing characteristic, and it is. He is a 
resident of Nottingham township, Wells 
county, Indiana. The date of his birth is 
April 5, 1835, in Guernsey county, Ohio. 

The parents of Bunyon J. Wells were 
John and Sarah (Tedrick) Wells. John was 
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
of English parentage. There he grew to 
manhood and learned the trade of a tanner. 
The family moved to Guernsey county 
when he was a young man, and there he 
found ample employment at his trade 01 
tanning, was prosperous and got married. 
His wife was Miss Sarah Tedrick, daughter 
of Jacob and Sarah Tedrick. She was of 
Irish and he of Dutch descent. After mar- 
riage they went to housekeeping in Guern- 
sey county and it was there all their children 
were born. About 1839 the family moved 
to Blackford county, Indiana, and settled 
on the land no\\' owned by Sarber & Scott, 
which was then all in the woods. He pre- 
pared the timber to build a cabin and had 




B. J. WELLS. 




MRS. B. J. WELLS. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLANA. 



to walk three and a half miles to the near- 
est neighbors to get them to come and help 
raise it. For a number of years he worked 
on his farm, but toward the latter part of 
his life he again devoted himself to the busi- 
ness of tanning leather. He continued to 
reside upon his land up to the time of his 
death, which occurred in 1879; his wife had 
then been dead about three years. Among 
the assets of his estate were three hundred 
and twenty acres of land. To John and 
Sarah (Tedrick) Wells six children were 
born, viz: James M., a resident of Mont- 
pelier; Martha, now deceased, was the wife 
of William Clevenger; Elizabeth, now de- 
ceased, was the wife of George Dawson; 
Sarah is the wife of Albert Dawson, a resi- 
dent of near Petoskey, Michigan; Bunyon J., 
the subject of this sketch ; Jacob, deceased. 

To the public schools of Blackford 
county and Liber College, near Portland, B. 
J. Wells is indebted for his education. The 
public schools he attended until he was 
twenty years of age and then attended the 
college during three terms. For a time he 
devoted himself to teaching in Chester town- 
ship. Wells county. Though doing much 
work on the farm from boyhood, he received 
no compensation whatever from his father, 
outside of his necessities, until he was 
twenty-one years of age, from which time 
he received wages the same as a hired hand. 
On March 31, 1859. Bunyon J. Wells was 
united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Daw- 
son, who was born in Champaign county, 
Ohio, February 2, 1837, the daughter of 
John and Prudence (Travis) Dawson. 

John Dawson was a native of Hartford 
county, Maryland, and a son of Thomas 
and Margaret Dawson. Thomas came from 
his native country, Ireland, to Maryland 
when he was only fifteen years of age. Thero 



he married and there his son John was born. 
The most of the life of Thomas Dawson 
was devoted to farming. John grew to 
manhood in Maryland and became a manu- 
facturer of boots and shoes. When war 
with England was declared, in 181 2, he vol- 
unteered in a Maryland regiment, serving 
all through the conflict, and when peace was 
declared he came home, with health badly 
impaired. By the advice of his physicians 
he traveled on horse back through Pennsyl- 
vania and into Ohio. There he met, in 18 17, 
Jane Travis, married her and settled down 
to manufacturing boots and shoes in Guern- 
sey county, Ohio. For about eleven years 
he worked at this business and was fairly 
prosperous. In 1828 his wife died, leaving 
him children, viz : Rebecca, born Aug- 
ust 2, 18 18, died at the age of eleven 
years; Elizabeth, born November 6, 1822, 
deceased; George, born November 25, 1824, 
now a resident of Union City; Albert, born 
December 27, 1826, resides in Petoskey, 
Michigan. In 1830 John Dawson married 
Prudence Travis, a sister of his former wife. 
To them three children were born, the old- 
est in 1833, died in infancy; the second 
died aged eighteen months; Margaret, 
in 1835 ; Sarah J., the youngest of the fam- 
ily, was born February 2, 1837, and is the 
wife of Bunyon J. Wells, the subject of his 
sketch. In 1838 John Dawson moved his 
family to Wells county, Indiana, and settled 
on the farm in Nottingham township, where 
Lewis Abshire now lives. He secured four 
hundred acres of land, all in the woods. In 
winter he worked at the boot and shoe busi- 
ness, sometimes at home, sometimes in 
Camden, while in summer he attended to 
his farm. Here he remained until his 
death, which occurred March 12, 1877. 

When John Dawson settled in Wells 



226 



WELLS COUNTY, L\DL\NA. 



county, Indiana, his nearest neighbor Hved 
four miles away. In her girlhood, Mrs. 
Wells says, Indians were quite numerous in 
Wells county, and wolves and bears were 
also plentiful. One of the Dawson boys shot 
and killed an old bear and captured three 
cubs and one of the latter was brought up 
about the house as a pet. Deer were so 
plentiful it was not uncommon to see as 
many as fifteen in one herd and it is told by 
the Dawsons that they shot deer from the 
top of their cabin. At that time the state 
road was the only road and it was merely a 
trail blazed through the woods. The low 
ground was then so wet and marshy that 
they did not pretend to use it. Only the 
high ground was cultivated. 

After marriage Bunyon J. Wells rented 
his father's farm for four years. The fifth 
year he moved to the one-hundred-and- 
twenty-acre farm where he now lives. Their 
home was an old log cabin, through the 
cracks of which, Mrs. Wells says, you could 
fling a cat. From this place, in November, 
1864, he entered the Federal service, join- 
ing Company K, Fifty- third Indiana Vol- 
unteers. He went to the front almost im- 
mediately after enlistment, was "marching 
through Georgia" with Sherman in the 
spring of 1865, was stationed at D'alton and 
remained there until April, when they joined 
the forces at Alexandria in time to take part 
in the grand review at Washington City. 
He was discharged in July, 1865. In his 
absence Mrs. Wells looked after the stock, 
managed the farm and took care of his in- 
terests generally. 

After returning from the service in the 
fall of 1865 Bunyon J. Wells moved his 
family to his father's farm, went to work at 
tanning and continued in that business un- 



til 1870, when he returned to his farm. Of 
the one hundred and twenty acres of which 
his farm is comprised, only thirty acres yet 
remained uncleared. The other ninety acres 
are well cleared, fenced, ditched and are 
splendidly cultivated. All of the improve- 
ments are substantial and lasting. On the 
place are six oil wells that at one time were 
"gushers," but are now giving out about 
twelve barrels a day. 

Since 1870, a period of thirty-two years, 
Bunyon J. Wells has devoted his entire time 
to his farm. He raises crops of grain, hay, 
vegetables and fruit, breeds and feeds cattle 
and Poland China hogs. He has made his 
business of farming quite profitable. His 
youngest son, John W. Wells, owns the 
lease of the six oil wells on the place and also 
manages the farm. He is prudent, energetic 
and economical. While the flow from the 
wells was big he was engaged in pumping, 
saved his money and when the opportunity 
offered purchased the lease. He also owns 
forty acres of land purchased with money 
accumulated in this way. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Bunyon J. Wells have 
been born five children, viz: Albertus V., 
born January 28, i860; Geneva, born April 
4. 1865, is the wife of John C. S. Burritt, 
and they are the parents of two children, 
Dwig-ht and Beatrice, and reside on Mrs. 
Burritt's parents' farm ; Prudence E., born 
November 12. 1867, married Frank Neus- 
baumer. a farmer, a resident of Bluffton, and 
have two children, Goldie and Leah : Carrie, 
born October 14. 1871, died November 4, 
1888; John W., born May 11, 1874, married 
Mollie Nutter, and they have two children. 
Amy and Eugene. 

In politics Bunyon J. Wells is a Republi- 
can, but not an office seeker or an office hold- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



er. The only public position he ever held 
was that of constable for two years. Never- 
theless few campaigns come round in which 
he does not take an active part in the inter- 
est of his party. The only order to which 
he belongs is that of Lew Daily Post No. 
33, G. A. R., at Bluffton. All through his 
long and useful life of nearly three score 
and ten years he has acted his part well by 
his family, his county, his state and his na- 
tion. To be right is his ambition, to do 
right is his creed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wells ha\-e in their pos- 
session an old parchment deed which was 
executed November 7, 1840, and bears the 
signature of President Martin Van Buren. 



JAMES LOCKWOOD. 

People of philanthropic tendencies, en- 
gaged in the work of ameliorating the con- 
dition of the working man, have long 
known that their labors would be much 
easier if they could induce laboring people 
to leave the cities and take up their abode 
in rural districts. In the cities few labor- 
ing people rise above a monotonous exist- 
ence of living, as it is expressed, "from 
hand to mouth." In the country it is vastly 
dififerent. There are few of the most suc- 
cessful farmers of any agricultural section 
who did not begin their active life working 
on the farm for other people. Had they 
started in a shop, factory, or other work in 
town^ they might not even own the home 
they live in and they would be confronted 
with a dependent old age, instead of having 
ample means to gratify every want. The 
subject of this sketch. James E. Lockwood, 



of Nottingham township. Wells county, 
may be said to have begun active life as a 
farm hand. He is not ashamed of it, and 
has no cause to be, for he has demonstrated 
that he has the material in him that enables 
him to rise far above such an humble be- 
ginning. 

James Lockwood was born in Cham- 
paign county, Ohio, April 12, 1842. His 
parents were Alonzo and Eliza (Stanly) 
Lockwood, a sketch of whose lives will be 
found elsewhere in this volume. The sub- 
ject hereof was educated in the public 
schools of Nottingham township, which he 
attended during the winter season as much 
as possible. The education received by him 
in this way was of course quite limited, 
but by judicious reading and retentive mem- 
ory, supplemented by an excellent fund of 
common sense, he is far better informed 
than many who arrogate to themselves 
much more learning. On attaining his ma- 
jority he went to work by the day or month 
as he found employment, but the ambition 
to make and have a home of his own took 
possession of him and as an initiatory step 
in that direction he did what most youths 
do, got married. 

July 30, 1863. James E. Lockwood was 
united in marriage to Miss Frances O. 
Blacklidge, a native of ^^'ells county, born 
May 3, 1847. Her parents were Joseph 
and Susan Blacklidge, among the oldest 
settlers of Wells county. The young people 
took up their residence on forty acres of 
land ri the woods, in a modest log cabin, 
eighteen by twenty feet in size, with a clap- 
board roof and walls daubed with mud to 
exclude the wind. If they had lived in the 
land of the Caesars, they might be remind- 
ed of Shakespeare's couplet : 



J28 



WELLS COUNTY, 1NDL\NA. 



"Great Caesar dead and turned to clay 
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away." 

The log cabin is still standing, but is 
no longer used as a human habitation. A 
horse, a cow, a sow and pigs and a scant 
supply of rude furniture constituted their 
entire worldly possessions. However, they 
had )X)Uth and strength, and inexhaustible 
supply of hope and confidence in each other 
and a peace and happiness which far oftener 
accompany humble poverty than grasping 
wealth. For the neighboring farmers he 
continuefl to work by the day, month or 
job as he could get work to do, and as a 
workman his services were always appre- 
ciated. One of those who knew him in 
those days describes him as "a young man 
without a lazy fiber in bis makeup." When 
not employed by others he worked for him- 
self, clearing and improving his land and 
planting as he cleared. After he had earned 
and saved enough money to purchase some 
stock and had enough land cleared to oc- 
cupy all of his time in planting, cultivating 
and gathering his crop, he devoted all of his 
time to his own little farm. Some six years 
after his marriage an opportunity offered 
to purchase forty acres lying northwest of 
where he lived. For this he went in debt, 
the burden being an additional incentive to 
industry and economy. This land he pro- 
ceeded to clear, improve and pay for and 
when this was done forty more acres, ad- 
joining his original place on the south, 
were purchased, of which tract fifteen acres 
were cleared and under cultivation. He 
next sold twenty acres and bought another 
twenty acres in order to give his farm more 
symmetrical proportions, so that he now 
owns in one tract a splendid farm of one 
hundred and twenty acres, under good cul- 



tivation and all cleared, ditched, fenced and 
improved except about ten acres that is in 
timber. He built a large, substantial barn, 
conveniently arranged, in 1887, and a hand- 
some, comfortable, well finished house in 
1889. This home he has splendidly fur- 
nished and it forms quite a contrast, indeed, 
with the rude log cabin that sheltered him 
and his wife during the early days of their 
wedded life. 

On this farm there are eight oil wells, 
which yield to the owner of the land about 
one dollar per day. There was a time when 
their output was more valuable, but the 
highest he ever received from them in a 
single month was three hundred and forty 
dollars. These latter years, not caring to 
subject himself to the hard work he did in 
other days, he keeps a renter on his farm 
by whom most of the crops are raised. His 
place is well stocked with polled Durham 
cattle and a general class of sheep. He is 
a thorough farmer, having devoted his en- 
tire life to the work, and under his man- 
agement and direction the business is con- 
ducted most profitably. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood eight chil- 
dren have been born, viz: James S., whose 
home is in Nottingham township, married 
Ida Heaston, and they are the parents of 
four children. Vera, Flossie, Zarapha and 
Lewis; Joseph F. married Hepsie Stephens 
and they have eight children, Roscoe, 
Bertha. Virgil, Edward, Harry, Cecil, 
Grace, Estella; Arthur married Elizabeth 
Neusbaumer and they have two children, 
Delma and Chella; Charles married Anna 
Walker; Lonella married Samuel L Nelar 
and they have one child, Hugh ; Maggie re- 
sides at her home with her parents, and two 
that died in infancy. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLANA. 



229 



In religion Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood and 
their daughter Maggie are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, devout and 
regular in their attendance upon the serv- 
ices and liberal in their support of religion 
and charity. In politics Mr. Lockwood is 
a Republican of the true stalwart type and 
earlier in life was quite acti\e in campaign 
work. He is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows lodge at Petroleum 
and takes much interest in the work of that 
fraternal order. The only public position 
he ever occupied was that of township trus- 
tee. He always had too many interests of 
his own demanding his attention to be able 
to spare any time to look after public inter- 
ests. Close application, industry and 
economy are the virtues that ha\-e given 
him success. He and his good wife have 
well earned the leisure and comfort that is 
now theirs in their declining years. With 
the love of their children and children's 
children and with the esteem and regard of 
all their neighbors and acquaintances, they 
can glide smoothly down life's rugged 
course until their summons comes to "wrap 
the drapery of their couch about them and 
lie down to pleasant dreams." 



JOSEPH ROSE. 

.\mong the prominent business men of 
Bluffton. Wells county, Indiana, but who 
started in meager circumstances, is Joseph 
Rose, who was born in Dauphin county, 
Pennsylvania, March 17, 1852, and is a son 
of Samuel and Sarah (Gordon) Rose, also 
natives of the Keystone state. Samuel 
Rose was a railroad contractor in his earlv 



business career, but later became a mer- 
chant, in which calling he both made and 
lost money. 

To Samuel and Gordon (Rose) have 
been born nine children and of these Joseph 
is the fifth in order of birth. As the father 
found it necessary to utilize the services of 
the son in his business of contracting, the 
education of the latter was somewhat neg- 
lected in youth. The father paid the son 
wages from the time the latter was fifteen 
years old until twenty-two and their mutual 
labor was always of a harmonious nature. 
After ceasing to work for his father, Joseph 
entered a general store in Dauphin county, 
Pennsylvania, in which he was employed 
as a salaried man for six years, but in the 
meantime, December 25, 1879, he married 
Miss Sarah A. Stoever, of Dauphin county, 
Pennsylvania, a daughter of David and 
Elizabeth (Hunsicker) Stoever. Sarah 
A. was born February 23, 1854, on a farm 
in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and re- 
ceived her education in the common schools 
of her native township. 

March 21, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 
Rose came to Wells county, Indiana, Mr. 
Rose being then possessor of about two hun- 
dred dollars. He found employment in the 
grocery store owned by Joseph Valentine, 
with whom he continued about one year, then 
entered the employ of Jacob Brown, with 
whom he remained four years; he was next 
emploj-ed by John A. Bowman for a }'ear 
and a half, and next by Albert Shepherd 
for a period of similar duration. All this 
time Mr. Rose employed his small capital 
in speculating in town lots and in this line 
made money rapidly. In 1892 he also pur- 
chased two farms, comprising one hundred 
and seventy-nine acres west of Blufifton, 



230 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLANA. 



and later disposed of them at a profit that 
was satisfactory. In 1892 Mr. Rose erected 
his present brick building, twenty-four by 
one hundred and forty feet, on Main street, 
at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars, 
the lower or ground floor of which is occu- 
pied as salesrooms while the upper floors 
are arranged as living rooms. 

The residence of Mr. Rose, erected in 
1900 at the corner of Washington and Mar- 
ion streets, at a cost of nearly eight thous- 
and dollars, is one of the finest dwellings in 
Blufifton, contains nine rooms and is heated 
by furnace. The fortune of Mr. Rose is 
now estimated at thirt}' thousand dollars, 
which he. aided by his amiable helpmate, 
has realized through personal efforts, 
shrewd speculative tact and the judicious 
manner in which he has made his invest- 
ments. 

Fraternally Mr. Rose is a member of 
Lodge No. 114, I. O. O. F., at Bluffton. 
and Mrs. Rose is a member of the Rebekah 
Lodge Xo. 87, of the same order, in which 
he has passed all the chairs and in April, 
1898, represented her subordinate in the 
grand lodge; she is also an active member 
of the ^^'oman"s Relief Corps, of "which she 
was once the president and in which she has 
filled all the minor chairs. Being a lady of 
culture and fine literary taste, Mrs. Rose is 
also a member of the Shakespearian Reading 
Club of Blufifton. 

In politics Mr. Rose is a Republican in 
national matters, but in town and county 
affairs he exercises his own judgment in 
casting his vote, generally selecting the 
most competent candidate for the office to, 
be filled regardless of party affinities, he be- 
ing himself a broad minded and public 
spirited citizen and fully competent to 



judge of the needs of the community and of 
the manner in which they should be sup- 
plied. He is honest in all his dealings and 
his bare word is as reliable as would be any 
document to which he might affix his signa- 
ture. 



GEORGE W. HUFFMAN. 

A biographical compendium of the 
nature of this work would be incomplete 
without due reference to the life of George 
W. Huffman, whose career as a citizen and 
as a public official have won for him a 
prominent place in the esteem of the people 
of Wells county. Mr. Huffman's parents 
were natives of Clark county, Ohio, but 
about the year 1846 they came to Indiana, 
settling in the county of Huntington, where 
the subject was born on the 27th day of 
January, 1847. His father, John Huffman, 
was a farmer and spent the remainder of 
his life in his adopted state. Like the major- 
ity of country lads, the early life of George 
W, was spent under the parental roof and 
as soon as old enough to be of practical 
service he was obliged to contribute his 
share towards cultivating the farm and pro- 
viding for the general support of the family, 
In the common schools he acquired a fair 
knowledge of the fundamental branches 
and later, by much reading, close observa- 
tion and C(jntact with the world in various 
business and official capacities, became one 
of the well balanced and thoroughly in- 
formed men of the community in which he 
has so long resided. Actuated by motives 
of filial duty he remained at home until his 
twenty-second year, meantime assuming 
much of the responsibility of managing the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



231 



farm and sparing no pains in looking after 
his parents' interests and ministering to 
their comfort and welfare. At the age of 
twenty- two he took a life companion in the 
person of Miss Sarah C. Neff, of Wayne 
county, this state, and shortly after his mar- 
riage moved to the county of Wells where 
he engaged in farming on land leased for 
the purpose. Mr. Huffman began life as 
an independent factor with a limited capi- 
tal, but in the course of two years was en- 
abled to puchase a home of his own, invest- 
ing his means in an eighty-acre tract of 
wood land in section i, Jackson township. 
To clear and reduce this place to cultivation 
required long and unremitting toil, but with 
a spirit born of a determination to succeed, 
he pursued in the undertaking until in due 
time he not only had a well tilled farm, but 
had increased his real estate to one hundred 
and ninety-eight acres of as fine soil as the 
county can boast. Mr. Huffman was ex- 
tremely fortunate in his selection, although 
unconsciously so, as future developments 
attested. \Mien oil was discovered in the 
Indiana field, it was found that his farm 
lay in the heart of the finest producing dis- 
trict of the state, the result of the discovery 
raising the value of his land many fold, its 
present worth being conservatively esti- 
mated at over thirty thousand dollars. As 
a farmer Mr. Huffman has long enjoyed the 
reputation of being one of the most enter- 
prising and thorough of the county, as the 
splendid condition of his fields and the gen- 
eral appearance of his place abundantly 
prove. Admirably situated for agricul- 
tural and live stock purposes, he has spared 
no pains in its development and, barring the 
boundless wealth which lies beneath the soil, 
it is today one of the finest farms as well as 



one of the most beautiful and attractive 
homes in the township of Jackson. 

For many jears Mr. Huffman has taken 
an active interest in public and political af- 
fairs and since attaining his majority has 
been unwavering in his allegiance to the 
Democratic party. Not only has he been 
an active worker, but his ability as a natural 
leader of men long since caused his services 
to be sought by the co^mcils of his party 
both in local and general campaigns. In the 
year 1893 '"^^ "^^'^^ elected sheriff of Wells 
county, which responsible office he filled 
four years, proving a most capable and 
obliging public servant, his administration 
being eminently satisfactory to the people 
regardless of party ties. At the expiration 
of his term he retired with the best wishes 
of all and since that time has not been act- 
ively engaged in any vocation further than 
to look after his large and constantly in- 
creasing oil interests, which yield him a 
handsome income. At the present time there 
are twelve producing wells on his place 
which, with others to be drilled at inter- 
vals, assure him a fortune of still larger 
magnitude in years to come. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Huffman have been born three chil- 
dren, the oldest of whom, Oscar, died at the 
age of three and one-half years: Ella, now 
the wife of Isaac Roush, of Mt. Zion, this 
state, and Charlie Wayne, the youngest, 
who served with distinction in the late 
Spanish-American war and at the present 
time lives in the city of Bluff ton. 

In his private life Mr. Huffman is so- 
ciable, hospitable and generous, ever ready 
to lend a helping hand to others and to give 
his influence and material assistance to all 
enterprises having for their object the gen- 
eral welfare. Few men in the county are as 



232 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



well and favorably known. His integrity 
has always been above reproach and his 
name is synonymous for all that is correct 
in manhood and ennobling in citizenship. 
Already he has won many victories in life's 
battle field and it is no e.xtravagant flight of 
fancy to indulge in the prediction that many 
more triumphs will yet be his before the 
days of his usefulness and power shall end. 
Fraternally Mr. Huffman is a member of 
Lodge No. 92, Knights of Pythias, and re- 
ligiously belongs to the Methodist church, 
as does also his wife. 



MICHAEL MILLER. 

For a number of years this gentleman 
has been a prominent factor in the agricul- 
tural affairs of Nottingham township and as 
such should l)e acoirde'd s]K'cific recogni- 
tion in a work of this character. Mr. Miller 
is a native of Wells county, Indiana, born 
on the 25th day of December, 1848, about 
a quarter of a mile north of his present place 
of residence. His ancestors on both sides 
were German and the family was first rep- 
resented in the United States by his parents, 
Henry and Mary (Gottschalk) Miller, who 
came from their native land of Wittenburg 
in 1 84 1 and settled in Ohio. There the 
father worked by the day and month at any 
honest employment he could find until earn- 
ing enough money to buy forty acres of land 
in Wells county, Indiana. He came here 
about the year 1846, settling on a tract of 
woodland in Nottingham township which he 
at once began to improve. Like other early 
comers, he was obliged to live in the con- 
ventional log cabin until a better habitation 



could be prepared and for many years his 
life was a ceaseless round of toil, attended 
at times by hardships and vicissitudes cal- 
culated to test to the utmost his courage and 
endurance. He lived to see the country 
transformed from a wilderness state into a 
very garden of plenty, the meantime im- 
proving his farm and adding to his posses- 
sions until his real estate amounted to one 
hundred and twenty acres, the greater part 
of which he brought to a. high state of cul- 
tivation. After living forty years on the 
place where he originally settled he discon- 
tinued farming and moved to Vera Cruz, 
where his death subsequently occurred. His 
wife died at Buena Vista, this state, where 
she had made her home for some time with 
a married daughter. Michael and Mary 
Miller reared a family of nine children, but 
three of whom are living at the present time, 
namely: Lucinda, wife of William Mertz, 
of Ft. Wayne; Sarah, wife of Ed Helbe, and 
the subject df this review: the following are 
the names of th.ose who are now deceased : 
John, Lena, Mary A., Jacob, Barbara and 
Noah. 

Michael Miller is the third of the above 
children in order of birth. He grew up to 
the full stature of robust physical and mental 
manhood amid the bracing and vitalizing 
scenes of farm life and received the best edu- 
cational advantages this native township af- 
forded, attending the district school of win- 
ter seasons until his eighteenth year. Like 
a dutiful son, he remained with his father 
several years after attaining his majority, 
receiving for his labor after reaching the age 
of twenty-one nothing but his board and 
clothing. When twenty-four years old he 
was united in wedlock with Miss Eliza 
Eger, of Wabash county, this state, the cere- 




MICHAEL MILLER FAMILY GROUP. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



233 



mony being solemnized on the 21st day of 
November, 1872. With a wife to support, 
Mr. Miller settled down on a forty-acre farm 
in Nottingham township which he purchased 
of his father for fifteen hundred dollars, go- 
ing in debt for every cent of the amount, 
and began housekeeping in the little old log 
cabin that had been erected many years be- 
fore. This cabin is still standing as a monu- 
ment of the olden time and in spite of the fif- 
tv-five vears that have passed over it the old 
structure is in a fairly good state of preser- 
vation. When Mr. Miller commenced farm- 
ing on his own accord a team of horses and 
a few agricultural implements represented 
the sum total of his worldly w-ealth. How- 
e\-er, he was rich in a well-defined purpose to 
succeed and being blessed w-ith good health 
he succeeded in getting a substantial start in 
life. He energetically prosecuted his farm 
work and in a few years bought a threshing 
outfit which he operated very successfuly 
for some time, thus materially increasing his 
earnings. In due time he discharged every 
dollar of the indebtedness on his land and 
five years after his marriage was able to add 
another forty acres to that which he already 
owned. As }ears passed by he bought with 
his savings other tracts until he now has real 
estate to the amount of two hundred and 
twenty acres, one hundred and eighty of 
which constitute the home farm, the other 
forty lying in the county of Wabash. Every 
foot of land and e\-ery dollar's w'orth of 
propert}' in his possession has been obtained 
b\' his ow'u good judgment and foresight, 
coupled with sterling honesty and tireless 
industry. He has made farming a study and 
knows how to produce the best results from 
his means and labor, yir. Miller is known 
throughout the township of Nottingham 



and elsewhere as one of the most successful 
agriculturists and stock raisers in this part 
of the country, while his high standing as a 
neighbor and citizen is cheerfully conceded 
by all who know him. 

In 1888 Mr. Miller built a fine modern 
residence on his farm, followed five years 
later by a large and commodious barn, both 
structures being among the best of their 
kind in the township of Nottingham. By 
a successful system of tile drainage he has 
greatly enhanced the fertility of the soil, be- 
sides reclaiming and reducing to the high- 
est state of tillage quite an area which was 
formerly considered too wet and swampy to 
be of any practical value. Reference has al- 
ready been made to Mr. Miller's success as a 
raiser of live stock ; to be more specific, suf- 
fice it to state that he devotes especial atten- 
tion to the Chester White, Poland China 
and Duroc breeds of swine, shorthorn cat- 
tle of various species and several varieties 
of fine wooled sheep. 

Mr. Miller has a beautiful home and the 
comforts and conveniences of life with 
which he has surrounded his family are 
many. He and his wife are the proud par- 
ents of nine children, whose names are as 
follows : Jacob H., w'ho married Minnie Sells 
and lives in Wabash county, has one child. 
Sarah E. : John E. married 3*Iyrtle French 
and assists his father in cultivating the 
home farm : Reuben. Ir\'in. Tina. Clara. 
^^'esley and Glennie are still members of the 
home circle ; one daughter. May. died in in- 
fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Miller, together with 
nearly all of their children, are members of 
the Evangelical church. During the last 
twenty-two years Mr. Miller has served as 
trustee of the local congregation to w^hich he 
belongs, in addition to which office he was 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



also steward for a period of twelve years. 
He is zealous in all departments of religious 
endeavor and has always demonstrated the 
genuineness of his faith by his works, as 
the two, according to the apostle James, go 
hand in hand. In national and state politics 
Mr. Miller is soundly Democratic, but in 
township and county affairs he always votes 
for the best qualified candidates regardless of 
party affiliation. Mr. Miller is a splendid 
example of the successful self-made man and 
his life and career may be studied with great 
profit by the young man just starting on the 
road to fortune. He is indebted to no one 
but himself for his present respectable posi- 
tion in the world, as he realizes how every 
dollar of the ample fortune which he now 
commands has been earned. 



JOHN WISNER. 

The subject of this sketch is an honor- 
able representative of one of the earliest 
pioneer families of Wells county. Not long 
after this part of the state was opened for 
settlement one William Wisner purchased 
land in what is now Lancaster township and 
proceeded to clear and develop a farm. He 
was a man of excellent repute, industrious, 
frugal and honest and in due time his la- 
bors were rewarded with a comfortable 
home on which the remainder of his life 
was spent. Mr. Wisner was a native of 
Ohio and there married Mary Plummer, 
who bore him the following sons and 
daughters : Richard, John, Silas, Sarah, 
Mary J. and Nancy A., all living in the 
county of Wells. 

John Wisner, the second son, was born 



on the homestead in Lancaster township, 
June 26, 1843, and spent the years of his 
childhood . and youth amid the stirring 
scenes of pioneer times. Reared on a new 
farm, he early became skilled in the use of 
the ax and as soon as old enough to wield 
that implement to advantage he was set to 
work in the woods, where he was soon able 
to perform a man's labor. Of winter sea- 
sons he attended the little school hard by, 
but not taking kindly to books or to the re- 
straints of indoor life did not make the prog- 
ress in his studies that he should or that 
his parents desired. Naturally ingenious, 
he spent his leisure time making various 
mechanical devices and long before reach- 
ing manhood's estate he had developed an 
aptness and skill in the use of tools which 
enables him to do all kinds of mechanical 
work with ease and dispatch. While at 
home his ability in this direction proved of 
practical use in the way of carpentry, all 
kinds of repairing and the making of va- 
rious agricultural implements of much 
greater value and utility than those pro- 
cured in the market. Young Wisner bore 
his full share in running the farm and it 
was while thus engaged that the national 
atmosphere became darkened by the clouds 
of impending civil war. Imbued with a 
spirit of patriotism and impressed with the 
belief that every able bodied man should be 
willing to sacrifice his life if need be in or- 
der .that the government might be preserved, 
he laid aside the implements of husbandry 
on the 23rd of November, 1861, and enlist- 
ed in Company H, Forty-seventh Indiana 
Infantry. Mr. Wisner was mustered into 
the service on the 31st day of the month 
following and immediately thereafter pro- 
ceeded to the front via Louisville and 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



235 



Bardstown, Kentucky, reaching New Ala- 
dricl, Missouri, in time to take part in the 
battle at that place. Subsequently his regi- 
ment operated for some time along the 
Mississippi river, later joining Grant's 
force in the campaign against Vicksburg. 
He took part in the battles near that city and 
the long siege before its final reduction, 
being almost continuously under fire from 
May I, 1863, until the capitulation on the 
4th day of July following. After the fall 
of that Confederate stronghold, the Forty- 
seventh was sent to New Orleans, thence re- 
treated to Sabine Cross Roads and Alex- 
andria, Louisiana, meantime engaging the 
enemy at many points and experiencing its 
full share of the horrible realities of war. 
:Mr. W'isner remained with his command in 
Louisiana until the expiration of his period 
of enlistment when he received his discharge 
and returned home, after three years of 
very active service. His military experience 
was marred by no disaster and he was sel- 
dom if ever absent from duty. Ready and 
willing at all times to meet danger, he won 
the good will of comrades and officers and 
when he retired from the service it was 
with a record for bravery and duty well 
done, of which any gallant defender of his 
country's honor might well feel proud. 

After the war Mr. Wisner resumed 
work on the family homestead and con- 
tinued under the parental roof until his mar- 
riage, which was solemnized in February, 
1867, with Miss Mary J. Pippard, of Lan- 
caster township. Mr. and Mrs. Wisner set 
up their first domestic establishment on her 
father's old farm and began the struggle of 
life with a combined capital of about one 
hundred dollars. After renting ground for 
three years he purchased sixty acres in the 



township of Lancaster, where he made his 
home until 1872, at which time he disposed 
of the place and bought an outfit for boring 
wells. He followed the latter business with 
gratifying success for several years, oper- 
ating in various parts of Wells and neigh- 
boring counties, his family meantime liv- 
ing in Bluffton. During the winter sea- 
sons, when well drilling could not be prose- 
cuted successfully, Mr. Wisner devoted his 
time to all kinds of repairing requiring su- 
perior mechanical skill. He also made gims 
to order, besides doing other work which 
proved financially remunerative. Disposing 
of his well-boring outfit, he afterwards 
purchased a threshing outfit and for several 
seasons followed the threshing of grain as 
a business. While thus engaged he invented 
a machine for threshing flax seed which has 
since been patented and put on the market 
and a little later took out letters patent on 
a skillful appliance for the stretching of lace 
curtains. In partnership with A. E. Sum- 
mer, Air. Wisner about 1890 started the 
first steam laundry in Bluffton. After 
operating the plant jointly for three years, 
the subject sold his interest and established 
the Hoosier Laundry in the city of Hunt- 
ington, running the same until 1900, when 
he disposed of the business and returned 
to Bluffton where he has since resided. For 
many years Mr. Wisner has spent consider- 
able time in hunting, a sport which he loves 
and prosecutes with all the ardor of his in- 
tense romantic nature. In company with 
Hon. Levi Mock, his friend and companion, 
he has pursued all kinds of game in the 
northern wilds, hunting from the Great 
Lakes to the gulf of Mexico besides travers- 
ing at different times various states and 
territories of the west. He has killed sixty- 



236 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



three deer, one bear and much smaller game 
in his time, which fact attests his skill and 
experience in what to him is the most pleas- 
urable and fascinating means of recreation. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wisner have not been 
blessed with children of their own, but for 
a number of years have given a home to 
Alice Church, a niece of Mrs. Wisner, upon 
whom they have lavished all the wealth of 
their love and affection. Their domestic 
circle is a very pleasant one and the open- 
handed hospitality which reigns within the 
walls of their dwelling is freely and gener- 
ously dispensed to the many friends and ac- 
quaintances who frequently gather there. 
Mr. Wisner is a member of Lew Darby 
Post, G. A. R., but formerly belonged to 
the organization at Huntington, of which 
he served a term as commander. He still 
manifests much interest in military affairs 
and nothing affords him more sincere grati- 
fication than to meet his old army com- 
rades and with them recall the thrilling in- 
cidents and startling experiences of war 
times. Of Mr. Wisner personally much in 
the way of compliment may be said. The 
soul of honor in his relations with his fel- 
low men, of unimpeachable integrity in all 
of his business transactions and a citizen 
whom the people of Huntington and Bluff- 
ton hold in the highest esteem, it is a fitting 
tribute to speak of him as one of the intelli- 
gent, enterprising and progressive men of 
Wells county. He gave some of the best 
years of his life for the preservation of the 
Union and since that time has supported 
the political party which in his judgment 
best represents the principles for which he 
fought. While a pronounced Republican, 
he is not a partisan and has never enter- 
tained any political aspirations. Measured 



by the true standard of success, his life has 
been fruitful of good results and he stands 
today, as he has always stood, for e\'ery- 
thing that subserves the public welfare and 
makes a higher order of citizenship. 



C. S. BRINEMAN. 



He who devotes his life to the educa- 
tion of others has a work that is generally 
thankless and always poorly paid. This is 
one of the many reasons why so few enter 
the profession of educators with a view of 
making it their life work. It will do for 
the time being, it will tide over a period in 
life for the student or graduate, fresh from 
school, who knows nothing of any other 
calling. But the man or woman who takes 
it up, cognizant of all that must be en- 
countered in it, and determined to sta}- by it 
in every emergency, has in him or her a 
good deal of the material out of which ])hi- 
lanthropists are made. One of this very 
class is Clement S. Brineman, the subject 
of this sketch. He is a teacher of acknowl- 
edged ability, one of the very few who has 
not broken the birch or cast the ferule aside 
with a view of bidding farewell to the call- 
ing forever. 

Clement S. Brineman is the son of 
Malachi and Sarah (Malotte) Brineman 
and was born in Chester township. Wells 
county, Indiana, July 12, 1866. His grand- 
father was John Brineman, a native of Ger- 
many, who. when a young man, to better 
his condition in life emigrated to America, 
settled in Pennsylvania and began life in 
this country as a common laborer. Here he 
met his future wife, married her and with- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



237 



in a short time changed his habitation to 
Ohio, which was then supposed to possess 
many advantages o\-er the older and more 
densely populated parts of the country. 
Not finding his home in the Buckeye state 
wholly to his liking, after residing there a 
number of years, he effected a second re- 
moval, this time settling in Liberty town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana. This was in 
1852. In those days the purchase price of 
land, per acre, was not nearly so great as it is 
today. The poor German emigrant was 
financially able to invest in an eighty-acre 
tract of land and although little schooled in 
the art of chopping trees, sawing logs or 
making rails, he set about clearing his land 
with an earnestness of purpose and an un- 
flagging industry that was soon productive 
of results. Here he lived, maintained, 
reared and educated his children, and here 
he finally died, commended and extolled for 
the many good qualities he was known to 
possess. He was the father of a large fam- 
ily, his son Malachi, father of the subject 
hereof, being the second child. 

Malachi Brineman was born and edu- 
cated in Ohio. When he arrived at man"s 
estate he was married and became the 
father of a number of children. While he 
was still a comparatively young man his 
wife died and about the time his father 
moved to Indiana he determined to try his 
fortune in the same locality. But before 
moving to Indiana he formed the acquaint- 
ance and later secured the friendship of 
Miss Sarah Malotte. This developed into a 
stronger passion, so that before many 
months elapsed, in 1852, Malachi Brineman 
and Sarah Malotte were husband and wife. 
Mrs. Malotte was the daughter of A. J. 
and Elizabeth (Baldwin) Malotte. Her 



father, who was of French descent, was 
born October 14, 1816, and died February 
26, 1862 ; his wife, of German descent, was 
born in 18 18, and died January 31, 1850. 
They were married in 1835, and their 
daughter Sarah was born March 23, 1857, 
her death occurring during the winter of 
1873. With the slender means in his pos- 
session, Malachi Brineman purchased, 
eighty acres of land, upon which he erected 
an humljle home and proceeded to improve 
it. Mr. Brineman was a hard worker, a 
man of fair education, shrewd and saga- 
cious, and took quite an active part in local 
politics even at that early date. He was a 
member of the Christian church and promi- 
nently identified himself with the work of 
that denomination. He died in 1877, loved, 
admired and respected by all his friends and 
acquaintances. They were the parents of 
nine children, of whom five are dead and 
four are still living. The dead are Caro- 
line, Fielden, Dora, Mary and Elizabeth. 
Ihe living are Clement S., the subject of 
this sketch ; Commodore, who is a resident 
of Chester township: Uriah, whose home is 
in Jackson township; Rosa, wife of Carl 
Smith, a resident of Mount Zion. 

Clement S. Brineman was the sixth 
child of the family and at his father's death 
he was a boy of only eleven years. The 
family was poor, each member being left 
dependent upon his own resources and at 
this tender age the lad was obliged to look 
in the face of the world and solve for him- 
self the problem of life. He went to work 
by the month for such neighbors as would 
give him employment, and at whatever 
work he was capable of performing. For 
five months he worked for one man and re- 
ceived the munificent sum of seven dollars 



238 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



per month. In this way, not always, how- 
ever, for such meager wages, he continued 
to work, embracing every opportunity to 
obtain an education. No days were too cold 
or inclement to keep him out of the school- 
room when school was in session. He ap- 
plied himself with a zest and earnestness 
to his books, which zeal threatened to under- 
mine his constitution. His eager thirst for 
knowledge won the sympathy of his teach- 
ers and they were only too ready to impart 
to him every morsel of instruction his 
youthful mind could grasp, ^^^^en he was 
seventeen years of age, with much timidity 
and some misgivings, he applied for a li- 
cense to teach. He took the examination 
and in fear and trembling awaited the re- 
sult. It was favorable and a license of six 
months was granted him. He secured a 
school and taught it most successfully. The 
bow of proriiise was now far up in the heav- 
ens. He felt that learning was indeed the 
key. From that time up to the present he 
has labored steadily in the school-room and 
is regarded as one of the best educators in 
this part of the state. When we consider 
the obstacles he had to surmount, the efforts 
he had to put forth to reach the goal, we 
need not be surprised that he decided to 
make teaching his life work. For two years 
he has been principal of the schools at Vera 
Cruz. His first certificate was for a period 
of six months, but the one he now holds is 
in duration six times that. 

On July 1 8, 1888, Mr. Brineman was 
united in marriage to Miss Zeffa Hower, 
who \\as born in Coldwater, Michigan, 
August 8, 1866, the daughter of John Y. 
and Ethelinda (Chalfant) Hower. She re- 
ceived her education in Bluffton, graduating 
from the high school of that city in the 



class of 1884, and was a teacher, previous 
to her marriage, for three years. One son 
has been born to this marriage, John H., 
the date of whose birth is November 7, 
1889. He also has a thirst for learning, 
which is without doubt mherited. Although 
only in his thirteenth year, he is in the sec- 
ond year of high school. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brineman are both members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. He is a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, be- 
longing to Lodge No. 1 14 of Bluffton, and 
is a past grand. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat, and at the last Democratic county con- 
vention held in AVells county he was 'a can- 
didate for the office of auditor. He was 
regularly seleQted by the voice of his party 
as its nominee and at the regiilar election 
held November 4, 1902, was elected to hold 
the office for the term of four years be- 
ginning January i, 1904. He is honest, 
capable and most deserving. Although he 
was before the people many months as a 
candidate, not a blot nor blemish has been 
found to tarnish his fair name. 



JOSIAH SLUSHER. 

Although this gentleman was left an 
orphan when a mere infant, he is today one 
of the substantial and most respected farm- 
ers of Wells county, Indiana. He was born 
August 27, 1844, on section 17, Jackson 
township, this county, a son of William and 
Hettie (Cale) Slusher, the former of whom 
was the first to pass away, and on the death 
of the latter the child, Josiah Slusher, was 
taken to the home of Isaac Jones, by whom 
he was reared on a farm until he reached his 



WELLS . COUNTY. L\DL\NA. 



239 



majority, when he was given a horse and 
saddle by Mr. Jones, with which he made 
a trip to Iowa, where he passed one year. 

When Mr. SKtsher returned to Wells 
county he worked out as a farm hand for 
about twelve months, then went back to 
Iowa and worked in the same capacity for 
another year, then made a trip through Mis- 
souri. Kansas and other parts of the west, 
and finally, in the fall of 1868, returned to 
Wells county and again worked out by the 
month until his marriage, October 29, 1869. 
to Naomi Morgan. This estimable lady was 
born September 3. 1848. in Wayne county, 
Indiana, and is a daughter of Charles H. 
and Mary Morgan, natives of South Caro- 
lina, the latter of whom passed away on the 
farm on which Josiah S lusher now lives, 
and the former in Warren, Indiana, in 
1901. 

After marriage "Sir. and Mrs. Slusher 
lived on rented land in Jackson township. 
Wells county, for a considerable time and 
then lived on Dr. Good's farm in Hunting- 
ton county for three years. He then made 
a sale of his personal eflfects and went to 
Arkansas in November, 1876, but, not lik- 
ing the country, returned to Wells county, 
Indiana, the following February and pur- 
chased forty acres of the farm on which he 
now lives, but which was then a wilderness 
and had no improvements except an old log 
cabin containing but one room, but in 1886 
Mr. Slusher erected a comfortable house in 
which he and his family lived until 1901. 
In the meanwhile he worked industriously 
at clearing off the land from its incum- 
brance of timber and converting it into a 
fruitful and profitable farm. 

By 1 90 1 Mr. Slusher had acquired the 
means with which to purchase the parental 



homestead, of which he then took posses- 
sion. He continued to follow his indus- 
trious habits and now owns one hundred 
and twenty acres of as fine farm land as can 
be found in Wells county, and has besides 
seven oil wells which yield him about forty 
dollars per month. He carries on general 
farming and at the same time devotes much 
of his time and attention to the breeding 
of live stock, giving the preference to Jer- 
sey cattle and Poland China hogs. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Slusher has 
been blessed with nine children, namely: 
Emma Eliza, born July 23. 1870, is now the 
wife of Oliver Williams, of Jackson town- 
ship, and is the mother of four children, 
Frederick C, Arthur C, Howard D. and an 
infant; William, the second child of Mr. 
and Mrs. Slusher, was born August 14, 
1872, is a farmer in Jackson township, is 
married to Miss Daisy Riggs, and is the 
father of two children, Ruie G. and Ran- 
dall C. ; Samuel was born November 20, 
1874, and difd February 4, 1877; Leora, 
born November 25, 1877, died September 2, 
1878; Charles H., born September 20, 
1879, still lives under the parental roof; 
Mary L. was born March 23, 1882, is mar- 
ried to Eugene Cruse; James R. was born 
July 27, 1885, and is still at home; Goldie 
was born June 28, 189 1, and the youngest 
child died in infancy unnamed. 

In politics in his earlier manhood Mr. 
Slusher did not identify himself with any 
particular party, but voted for such candi- 
dates as were best suited in his opinion to 
fill the various offices for which they were 
nominated, but he is now a strict Prohibi- 
tionist. With his family, he is a member 
of the Radical United Brethren church, is 
an active worker in the congregation and 



240 



WELLS COUNTY, LNDL\NA. 



has also been a trustee in the church ever 
since the erection of the church edifice. 

Too much credit cannot be given to Mr. 
Slusher for the prudence he has exercised 
throughout Hfe and the care with which he 
and his estimable wife have reared such of 
their children as have reached mature years 
and who are now ornaments to the com- 
munities in which they live. 



PHILIP B. ALBERSON. 

The gentleman of whom the biographer 
now writes is widely known as one of the 
honored citizens of Wells county and for a 
number of years he has been actively iden- 
tified with the varied interests of the town- 
ship in which he resides. His well-directed 
efforts in the practical affairs of life, his 
capable management of his own business in- 
terests and his worthy discharge of import- 
ant trusts, together with his sound judg- 
ment and sterling integrity, have brought to 
him prosperity and public confidence and his 
life demonstrates what ma\ be accomplish- 
ed by a man of energy and ambition who is 
not afraid to work and who places upon hon- 
orable endeavor its proper value. In all the 
relations of life he has commanded the re- 
spect and confidence of his fellow citizens 
and without a brief record of his career the 
biographical history of Wells county would 
be incomplete. 

Philip B. Alberson was born January 29, 
1854, in Adams county, Indiana, and is a 
son of Charles and Mary A. (Brown) 
Alberson. Charles was the son of Joshua 
and Catherine Alberson, who were among 
the early settlers of Randolph county, Indi- 



ana, subsequently removing to the county of 
Adams. Charles Alberson was born in 
Randolph county, but grew up and married 
in Adams, moving from the latter to Wells 
county about the year i860, settling on the 
farm which his son Philip B. now owns. 
He cleared eighty acres of this place, became 
one of the substantial men of his community 
and died in the year 1878, honored and re- 
spected by a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. His widow is still living at 
the ripe old age of eighty and is quite strong 
and vigorous for one of her years, retaining 
in a marked degree her mental as well as 
her bodily powers. Mr. and Mrs. Alberson 
reared a large family of eleven children, ten 
of whom grew to years of maturity, namely : 
Joshua, a resident of Nottingham township; 
Elizabeth, wife of \\'. S. Settles ; Henry, of 
Nottingham township ; Philip, subject of 
this sketch ; Catherine, who married Warren 
Walser; Nancy, now Mrs. Mat Tinsley; 
Daniel, of this county; Julia, wife of Robert 
Gilby; Jacob, a farmer of Nottingham, and 
Samuel, also a resident of this township; 
the first born of the family was a son by 
the name of John who died in infancy. 

Philip B. Alberson received a limited 
knowledge of books in the schools of his 
native township and owing to circumstances 
which he could not command was unable to 
prosecute his studies as far as he desired. 
He remained at home faithfully attending to 
the duties of the farm until seventeen years 
of age, when he began earning money for 
himself by working as a farm hand for a 
man by the name of Settle, later entering 
the employ of Mr. Jacob Wolf. He was thus 
engaged for two years, at the end of which 
time he took charge of the home place on 
account of his father's ill-health and con- 




PHILIP B. ALBERSON. 




MRS, PHILIP B. ALBERSON. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



241 



tinned to look after the same nntil beginning 
life for himself several years later. While 
cultivating the old homestead he purchased 
twenty-five acres of his own and on the 
i6th of September, 1877, was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah Davis, daughter of 
1'. F. and Alice (Rogers) Davis, of Adams 
county. Lnmediately following his mar- 
riage Mr. Alberson moved to his little place 
in Nottingham township referred to above, 
but did not long remain there, his father's 
continued ill health causing him again to 
return to the old home. On the death of his 
father he purchased his brothers' and sis- 
ters' interests in the estate, after which he 
took possession of the farm and has since 
cultivated it in connection with stock rais- 
ing, realizing liberal returns from his labors. 
He has added many improvements to the 
place in the way of buildings, draining, etc., 
and from time to time has purchased other 
lands until he is now the owner of two hun- 
dred and thirty acres of real estate which for 
productiveness and advantage of situation is 
not excelled by any like area in the town- 
ship of Nottingham. Li addition to his 
countr}- real estate, Mr. Alberson has valu- 
able town property, owning a large store 
building and several dwelling houses in 
Phoenix, besides lots and buildings in the 
village of Petroleum. In connection with 
agriculture he has made for a number of 
years past a specialty of live stock, particu- 
larlv the rearing of hogs, and has shown 
excellent judgment in this important branch 
of husbandry. Not a little of Mr. Alber- 
son's wealth of recent years has been derived 
from the twenty-three oil wells on his land, 
his share of the proceeds now averaging 
from sixty to seventy dollars per month, 
although much greater than these amounts 



for some time following the development of 
the industry. 

Mr. Alberson has alwa\-s been recognized 
as a man of sound judgment and excel- 
lent business qualifications, in view of which 
facts his services have frequently been in 
demand to settle estates and act as guardian 
for minor heirs, several of which trusts he 
has on his hands at the present time. His ad- 
vice in legal matters has also been sought 
by his neighbors and his opinions in these 
and other affairs have seldom if ever been 
at fault. x\s a Republican he has taken an 
active interest in political and public affairs 
and as a citizen his voice and influence have 
always been used to further legitimate ob- 
jects for the material advancement of the 
community and the .social and moral im- 
provement of his fellowmen. Fraternally he 
is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows Lodge No. 721, at Petroleum, 
his wife belonging to the Rebekah degree, 
Lodge No. 571, at Petroleum. 

Mr. and Mrs. Alberson have had nine 
children, whose names and other facts con- 
cerning them are as follows : Rella M., born 
July 5, 1878, is the wife of John Young, of 
this county, and the mother of three off- 
spring, Arlie, Esther and Oakes; the sec- 
ond of the family was an infant daughter, 
born and died on the 6th of October, 1880; 
Emma C. was born November 18, 1882, and 
still lives under the parental roof; the next 
in order of birth was an infant that died 
unnamed ; John C. was born on the 7th 'day 
of June, 1885; Arvil, born July 28, 1887, 
died October 6, of the same year; Mary A. 
was bom August 11, 1888, departed this life 
on the 13th of September, 1889; William 
was born August 11, i8go, and Violet, 
whose birth occurred on the loth day of 



242 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



June, 1894. Mr. Alberson's family is one 
of the best known and among the most popu- 
lar in this part of the county. He has every 
reason to be proud of his fine home, of his 
well cultivated farm and of his good citi- 
zenship and excellent name. The high es- 
teem in which he is held bears testimony to 
his moral character and substantial worth, 
and his life has been so filled with good deeds 
that he finds little to regret in the A'ears gone 
bv. 



SANFORD H. TEMPLIN. 

Rent is one of the most exacting and 
persistent sources of expense to the poor. 
It feasts upon a slender income with as 
much voraciousness as a hungry guest at a 
cheap restaurant. Nine-tenths of the poor 
would not be so poor as they are if they did 
not have to pay rent all their lives. The 
average man who has been the head of a 
family twenty-five years is appalled when 
he figures up the amount he has paid out in 
rent. Most people think there is no other 
help for it but to pay and keep on paying. 
Sanford H. Templin, of Nottingham town- 
ship. Wells county, the subject of this 
sketch, long ago discovered that the rent 
cormorant could be avoided. It would be 
difficult for a young couple to be much 
poorer than he and his young wife were 
when they were first married thirty-seven 
years ago. They started in their married 
life with the purpose of avoiding all unnec- 
essary expense, rent among the rest, and 
now in the fifty-eighth year of his age he 
can truthfully say he never defrauded a 
landlord out of a penny or paid a cent of 
rent in his life. In reply to those who in- 



quire how he did it, all that is necessary to 
say is that when there's a will there's a way. 

Sanford H. Templin was born October 
II, 1845, in Henry county, Indiana. He is 
the son of Terry and Rachael (Johnson) 
Templin. The father was a native of High- 
land county, Ohio, a son of Robert and 
Eunice Templin, both natives of Ohio. The 
Templins were of English ancestry and the 
Johnsons of Welsh. Terry Templin grew 
to manhood in his native state, married 
Rachael Johnson and settled down to his 
life on the farm. In 1830 he moved his 
family to Delaware county, Indiana, his 
parents accompanying him. All settled in 
the same neighborhood where they re- 
mained until after the death of Robert Tem- 
plin, grandfather of the subject. His wife 
Eunice died at the home of her son Timo- 
thy, in Howard county, Sduie years after. 

On first coming to Indiana Terry Temr 
pHn engaged in farming. He followed this 
for a number of years, when he embarked 
in the manufacturing business. He opened 
a small factory, foundry and shop at 
Blountsville, Henry count}', and engaged in 
the manufacture of such agricultural im- 
plements as were in use at the time. He was 
very successful and continued in the busi- 
ness up to the time of his death, January 
23. 1855- To him and his wife Rachael 
thirteen children were born and at the time 
of his death his wife and eleven children 
were living. Sanford, the subject, was then 
only nine years of age. The children are: 
Sarah A., born February 'Zt^, 1829, de- 
ceased; Nancy J., born November 3, 1830, 
deceased; Mary E., born December 5, 1832, 
deceased; Lancey J., born December 20, 
1834, deceased, was a minister in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church ; Eunice, born De- 




p. B. ALBERSON. 

LOG CABIN HOUSE ERKCTF.D ABOUT 1850. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



243 



cember 30, 1836, deceased; Catharine, born 
March 5, 1836, is the wife of Ephraim 
Carey, and resides in Dallas, Texas; Eliza- 
beth, born May 24, 1843, is the wife of Alex- 
ander Chalfant ; Grace A. is the wife of Will- 
iam Faulkner, a resident of Nottingham 
township; Sanford H., the subject of this 
sketch, will be more particularly referred 
to hereafter; Rachael L., born October 17, 
1847, deceased; Charles E., born July 10, 
185 1 ; Seneth A., born June 24, 1854, is the 
wife of F. M. Campbell and resides in Ran- 
dolph county; Letitia died in infancy. De- 
cember 28, 1859. Rachael, the mother of 
these children, died at the home of her son. 
Sanford H., April 17, 1884, the latter years 
of her life having been spent under his 
roof, where she was tenderly cared for. 

Delaware and Henry counties each con- 
tributed to the education of Sanford H. 
Templin. Until he was eighteen years of 
age he attended the public schools and se- 
cured a fair education. The family being 
poor at the death of his father, every re- 
source had to be taken advantage of to sup- 
ply the wants of the widowed mother and 
children, and Sanford, therefore, early had 
to learn to work. At the age of ten years 
he began to work for neighboring farmers 
by the month. Unselfishly, willingly, even 
gladly, the little fellow gave up every dol- 
lar that he earned to supply the necessities 
of his mother and sisters and he continued 
to do so as long as occasion required. When 
not employed by the month he chopped cord 
wood, was engaged in this class of work at 
the time of his marriage and continued it 
for five }'ears thereafter. On February 4, 
1865. he was united in marriage to Miss 
Judith M. Faulkner, a native of Randolph 
county, born January 16. 1847. She was 



the daughter of Solomon and Ruth (Bales) 
Faulkner. Solomon Faulkner was born in 
Virginia, March 26. 1799, his wife Ruth 
on August 26, 1808, and they were married 
in 1825. His parents were David and Jud- 
ith Faulkner, natives of Wales, while her 
parents were John and Lois Bales. Some 
three years after marriage Solomon and 
Ruth Faulkner moved to Randolph county. 
Indiana, and there remained on the same 
farm until their deaths. 

Fourteen children were born to Solo- 
mon and Ruth Faulkner: Isaiah M., born 
September 16. 1826. died August 27, 1895 ; 
Nathan, born No\ember 29. 1827, died Jan- 
uary 27, 1895 ; Jason and Jabeft were 
twins, born November 22, 1829; the latter 
died on the day of his birth, the former liv- 
ing until October 21, 1834; Mary, born 
January 15, 1832, is the widow of Jacob 
Booher; Rachael, born December 27, 1833, 
is the widow of Henry Hill; Jesse, born 
January 21, 1836, resides in Muncie. Illi- 
nois; Phoeba J. and Betsie E.. twins, born 
March 17, 1838; the latter died December 
7, 1882, and the former is the wife of 
Aaron H. Pucket; John, born November 
29, 1841, is a resident of Delaware county; 
William, born September 13, 1842, re- 
sides in Wells county; Lois A., born !May 
25. 1844. is the wife of William Williams; 
Judith, born June 16, 1S47. is the wife of 
Sanford H. Templin, the subject of this 
sketch; Martha E., born June 2, 1849, died 
February 22. 1854. 

After marriage Sanford H. and Judith 
Templin established themselves at house- 
keeping at Windsor, Randolph county. 
They purchased a small house, paying five 
dollars down, and the greater part of the 
purchase money was paid in labor and in 



H4 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



truck which he raised in his garden. They 
started out in their married hfe with the 
purpose of never paying rent and so far 
they have fulfilled their purpose. Their 
present prosperous condition and good 
financial standing gives promise of their be- 
ing able to continue to do so. As a wedding 
portion her father gave her a cow and three 
sheep and her mother gave her a half dozen 
chickens and some household necessities. 
While commendably industrious, Sanford 
had saved nothing from all his hard labor, 
because what he earned was mostly devoted 
to his mother and sisters. For several 
years he chopped cord wood, then put in 
two years scoring timber to be used in the 
building of bridges, receiving for this work 
one dollar and a half a day. Jonathan 
Clevenger was his employer and from him 
he purchased a piece of ground, nine acres 
in extent, and all his earnings, while scoring 
timber, went to pay for this land. Mean- 
while Solomon Faulkner, father of Mrs. 
Templin, died and Sanford traded his nine 
acres to his brother-in-law, William, for 
his interest in the Faulkner farm. He and 
his wife then moved to the farm and took 
up their residence there. 

As showing how thrifty and economical 
people were in those days, the first year 
they were on the farm Mrs. Templin took 
one hundred and twenty-five pounds of 
wool from her sister's sheep, carded and 
spun it with her own hands, gave half of 
the thread for weaving it into cloth and out 
of this cloth she cut and made garments for 
the family. She did this without in the 
least interfering with her regular work, 
caring for her household, looking after her 
children, milking three cows and making 
butter therefrom, raising her chickens and 



gathering the eggs. They remained on this 
place about three years, when they traded 
their interest in it for eighty acres of land, 
incurring thereby an indebtedness of four 
hundred dollars. The greater part of this 
land was woods, but the trees on forty 
acres of it had been deadened by girdling. 
There were no ditches or fences on the place 
and the log house, when they moved into it, 
had been "chinked," but not "daubed." For 
a window there was a hole in the side of the 
structure and a bed quilt supplied the place 
of a door. Once while the mother was out 
milking, the sheep went in and frightened 
the babies nearly to death. At another 
time the}" were short of milk for nine 
weeks. The cows wandered off and were 
not found for tliat length of time. 

It was the purpose of Mr. Templin to 
plant ten acres of corn on his place the first 
}ear, but he only succeeded in preparing 
the ground and planting about eight acres. 
Between clearing, ditching, fencing, plow- 
ing and planting, to say nothing about 
gathering his crop and feeding his stock, 
he was kept quite busy the next few years. 
When the project of digging the Wilson 
creek ditch was inaugm-ated Mr. Templin 
was one of its chief promoters. Year by 
year, through hard work and good manage- 
ment, he prospered and added to his worldly 
possessions. In 1888 he built a large barn 
and in 1891 he erected a comfortable, com- 
modious residence. He has added,- by pur- 
chase, forty acres to his farm on the south. 
It was nearly all clear and he incurred some 
indebtedness in securing it, but every dol- 
lar of it has been paid ofif long ago. Last 
year he purchased forty acres on the north, 
which gives him one hundred and sixty 
acres, all in one bod}-. On this place he has 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



245 



five oil wells tliat are now bringing him 
fifteen dollars per month. At one time 
they were good ones, producing the first 
year not less than two thousand dollars. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Sanford H. Templin 
three children have been born, viz : Leticia 
Jane, born November 8, 1865, married 
George Chenoweth, and the}' have four 
children, Clarence, Elma, Charley and 
Owen; Cary, born November 20, 1867, was 
twice married, his first wife, whose maiden 
name was Ella Kelley, having died five 
months after marriage ; he later married 
Ebbie Chenoweth, and they have three 
children, Chester R., deceased, Roswell M., 
Clinton H. ; George, born March 20, 1870, 
married Ollie Settle, and they have two 
children, Lawrence and Helen. The family 
are members of the United Brethren church 
and are active in church and charitable 
work. The father is a trustee of the church 
near his home, where they attend, and his 
son Cary is a trustee of the church at Petro- 
leum. 

In addition to land which he owns, the 
personal property of Sanford H. Templin 
will schedule upward of two thousand fi\e 
hundred dollars. Considering how small 
their beginning was, this is quite a showing 
for the work they have doue and the sav- 
ings they made. In politics he has always 
been a Republican and is generally rjuite 
acti\e in his party's interest, especially dur- 
ing important campaigns. He has served 
as a member of the count}- central commit- 
tee a number of years, was deputy assessor 
and has frecjuently attended the state con- 
vention as a delegate. He is a man of abil- 
ity and influence in his locality whose opin- 
ions are deferred to, whose influence is 
courted and whose worth is well appre- 
ciated. 



Before closing this sketch, it will be 
worthy of note to state that the original 
Templin ancestor was a sailor, having 
served as such on the "Mayflower" when 
she brought her famous passengers to 
Plymouth Rock. He made thirteen trips 
across the Atlantic, but finally gave up his 
seafaring life and settled in Pennsylvania, 
and from him the entire Templin family 
in the United States is descended. The sub- 
ject's great-grandfather Templin felled the 
first tree in Cincinnati when the fort there 
was built. 



A. W. SOURS. 



This enterprising young agriculturist of 
Nottingham township. Wells county, Indi- 
ana, is the eldest of the seven children that 
constitute the family of Samuel and Cynthia 
(Houdy shell) Sours, and was born in the 
eastern part of Nottingham township, April 

19. 1849- 

Samuel Sours was born in Virginia, from 
which state he was taken when young to 
Ohio by his parents. George and Nanc}- 
(Gentis) Sours. In 1837 the family came 
from Ohio to Wells county, Indiana, which 
was at that time a dense wilderness. George 
Sours, the grandfather of A. W.. on arriv- 
ing in Wells county, entered the two-hun- 
dred-and-forty-acre tract of land now owned 
by C. B. Funk, and here passed the remain- 
der of his life. To George and Nancy Sours 
were born five children, in the following or- 
der : Henry, deceased ; Samuel, father of A. 
W. ; Jane, deceased ; Eliza, married to J. M. 
Powers, and Mary, wife of Jerome Reiflf. 

Samuel Sours grew to manhood virtually 
in \\'ells county and was here married. His 
wife was born in Hocking county, Ohio, a 



246 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLANA. 



daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Roberts) 
Houdyshell, who were of German descent. 
At his marriage Samuel settled on a part of 
the old place, where he lived until about 
1864, when he purchased a tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres in section 17, on 
which he lived until advancing years ren- 
dered him too feeble for the active work of 
life, when he and wife went to live with 
their children. The death of Samuel Sours 
occurred April 10, 1898, but Mrs. Cynthia 
Sours, at the age of seventy-six years, still 
survives. The seven children born to 
Samuel and Cynthia Sours were named in 
order of birth as follows : A. W., whose name 
opens this biographical record; John, a far- 
mer in Adams county, Indiana ; George, a 
resident of Muncie, Lidiana ; Eliza, de- 
ceased : ]\Ielissa, wife of Oliver Richardson, 
also of Muncie; Adeline, who died an in- 
fant, and Amarillis, married to John Conan, 
a prominent citizen of Adams county, Indi- 
ana. 

A. W. Sours received his earlier educa- 
tion in the district schools of Nottingham 
township. Wells county, Indiana, and later 
attended the public school at irregular inter- 
vals until he reached the age of twenty-one 
years. This irregular attendance was oc- 
casioned by the constant call for his services 
in clearing up the old homestead from the 
heavy timber with which it was encumbered, 
a work which occupied his time until he 
reached his twenty-third year, when he be- 
gan working out on his own account by the 
month, and at this he continued about four 
years. He was frugal and industrious and 
during this period accumulated sufficient 
funds to purchase his present farm of forty 
acres, which he has entirely cleared off and 
converted into a perfect garden spot. 



August 23, 1876, Mr. Sours was united 
in marriage with Miss Martha E. Runyon, 
who was born in Adams county, Indiana, 
May 24, 1852, a daughter of Benjamin and 
Elizabeth (Nicholas) Runyon, natives of 
Virginia, whence they went to Ohio and 
from the Buckeye state came to Indiana and 
settled in Adams county, where Benjamin 
Runyon was serving as county commissioner 
at the time of his death, and where his wife 
also died. To Mr. and Mrs. Runyon were 
born seven children, named as follows : Jane, 
Sarah, John, George, Martha, Mrs. Sours, 
Laura M. and Clarissa. 

A. W. Sours at his marriage began 
housekeeping in a cabin that had already 
been built on the farm. Mr. Sours at this 
time owned a team and his wife brought a 
cow from the home of her parents, and with 
these personal effects they began the earnest 
work of matrimonial life. Mr. Sours 
worked hard and succeeded in clearing up 
his forty acres and about 1897 was able to 
purchase another tract of the same size, all 
of which land is now well drained, although 
it was originally all a swamp, especially the 
first purchase. He erected a comfortable 
dwelling about fifteen years ago and now 
has one of the best farms of its dimensions 
in the county. He raises the crops usual to 
the latitude, and gives a great deal of atten- 
tion to the breeding of shorthorn cattle, 
Poland China hogs, mixed with Durocs, and 
also Shropshire sheep, and is altogether a 
successful live stock breeder and general 
farmer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sours have had no chil- 
dren born to them, but in the kindness of 
their hearts they took to their home Mary 
E. Runyon when she was but eleven years 
of age, and have reared her with all the af- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



247 



fection and care they could have bestowed 
upon a daughter of their own. Mr. Sours 
and wife are members of the Christian 
church at Linn Grove, to the support of 
which they are very hberal and in the work 
of which they take a most active and efifect- 
ive part. Mr. Sours is a member of Lodge 
Xo. 634, I. O. O. F., at Geneva, Indiana, 
and he, wife and ^Nliss Runyon are members 
of Rebekah Lodge No. 327, of the same or- 
der at the same place. Mr. Sours is a 
Democrat in politics and has served his party 
as trustee of Nottingham township with 
fidelity and ability. He believes in good 
roads and objects to wooden bridges, but 
favors all improvements that conduce to the 
convenience and benefit of the general public. 
The following obituary notices, relative 
to Mrs. Sours' parents and to the subject's 
father, are here reprinted and will un- 
doubtedly prove of interest to the reader : 



Sister Elizabeth Nichols was born in Page 
county, Virginia. January 2, 1821, moved with her 
parents to Champaign county, Ohio, when eleven 
years of age and was married to Benjamin Run- 
yon, June 19, 1S38. She moved with her husband 
to Hartford township, Adams county, in 1843. In 
1853 she professed Christ and was baptised by 
Rev. C. Slvinner into the Canaan Baptist church. 
Her lite was one of faithfulness to her God, her 
church and her family. She was the mother of 
sixteen children, nine of whom reached mature 
years and eight of whom are still living. The 
death of Sister Runyon had been expected; her 
disease was consumption and for months she had 
been waiting by the River and when the Ferry- 
man came to ferry her over she was fully pre- 
pared. With a peace of mind prevading her soul 
like a clear, calm st»-pam. she sank sweetly, trust- 
ingly into the arms of death without a struggle. 
Hers was the death of a Christian. On her dying 
lips the song of glory quivered. She departed this 
life March 2, 1888, at the age of sixty-seven years 
and two months, on her old homestead, surrounded 
by her family and friends. She leaves many to 



mourn her departure. The funeral sermon was 
preached from the text found in Psalms 23:4. 

Benjamin Runyon was born in Rockingham 
county, Virginia, February 6, 1819, departed this 
life October 25, 1879, aged sixty years eight 
months and twenty days. W'hile young he moved 
with his parents to Champaign county, Ohio. He 
was married to Elizabeth Nichols June 19, 1838, 
and moved with his family to Adams county, In- 
diana, in 1843. In 1853 he was converted and 
joined the Canaan Baptist church, of which he was 
a faithful and consistent member until death. He 
was one of the pioneers of the county and helped 
to fell the forest and make for himself a home. 
He served as justice of the peace for twelve years, 
after which he was elected county commissioner, 
and was serving his second term at the time of 
his death. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife, 
nine children, eleven grandchildren, six brothers, 
one sister and a host of friends; but our loss is 
his gain. Funeral services were conducted at his 
home by his pastor. 

We are called upon this week to chronicle an 
event the like of which has not occurred since 
the formation of Adams county, viz: the death 
of a county official. Benjamin Runyon, commis- 
sioner from the third district, after a lingering 
sickness of several months, departed this life last 
Saturday morning, October 25, 1879, aged sixty 
years, eight months and twenty days. Benjamin 
Runyon was of that class of men who will rather 
suffer wrong themselves than do wrong to others. 
In his official capacity as a member of the com- 
missioners' court he was always on the side of 
right and justice. He was first elected commis- 
sioner in 1874, and re-elected in 1876; his full 
term would not have expired until December, 
1880. A large concourse of people paid the last 
sad rites to his memory last Sabbath afternoon. 

On April 10, 1898, In Hartford township, 
Adams county, occurred the death of one of the 
oldest pioneers of the county in the person of 
Samuel Sours. The deceased was born August 
28, 1821, in Augusta county, Virginia, and died 
aged seventy-five years, seven months and twelve 
days. He was married December 19, 1847, to 
Cynthia Howdyshell, to which union were born 
seven children, three sons and four daughters, 
two of whom have preceded him to the spirit 
world. The remaining five were present at the 



248 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



funeral to mourn the departure of a kind and af- 
fectionate parent. Brother Sours in early life 
united with and became one of the charter mem- 
bers of the Christian church, in which he lived a 
consistent Christian life to the day of his death. 
Brother Sours came to Wells county, Indiana, in 
1837 and settled in Nottingham township. In his 
early life he was a brickmaker and it was he 
who made the brick for the old court house of 
Wells county. Around and in connection with 
his life cluster many interesting facts and scenes 
of the early settlers in the forests of Wells county. 
Father Sours has gone to his reward, and peace 
to his ashes. May we all draw a lesson from the 
peaceful life of one who was always ready to do 
good. 



WILLL\M BLOXSOM. 

When it comes to tracing ancestr}' in this 
country back to a remote period, there are 
few persons in Indiana who can do better 
in that hne than WilHam Bloxsom, of Not- 
tingham township. Wells county, who is the 
subject of this sketch. His great-grand- 
father was Richard Bloxsom. a native of 
Dundee. Scotland, who came to America 
about the middle of the last century, when 
he was a young man, settled in Virginia, 
was one of the colonial troops who went 
out under Washington to fight the Indians 
and participated in that most unfortunate 
affair, known in American history as Brad- 
dock's defeat. His wife was Anna, a native 
of Virginia. Their son was William Blox- 
som. grandfather of the subject hereof. The 
wife of William was Mar}', a native of New 
Lewisburg, Virginia, and their son was 
James Bloxsom, whose wife was Anna Rob- 
inson, and they became the parents of Wil- 
liam Bloxsom, the subject of this sketch. 

After returning from the Indian war 
Richard Bloxsom secured a tract of land in 



Virginia, married and settled down, like the 
typical Virginia gentlemen of the period, 
upon a plantation. He owned slaves, 
planted, garnered his crops and prospered. 
Though an intense patriot during the Revo- 
lutionary war, the hostilities did not affect 
him much financially. In the latter part of 
his life he became a member of the Friends 
church and as slavery is obnoxious to the 
teachings of that creed, in 1804 he liberated 
his slaves. In those days a plantation 
without slaves was an insupportable incum- 
berance, so he sold out and moved to Ohio. 
He brought with him his wife and five chil- 
dren, William. Charles Gregor}'. Gideon, 
Anna and Mary. 

\Villiam, grandfather of the subject 
hereof, first settled in Belmont county. Ohio, 
and later moved to Clark county about 1820. 
He and his wife were the parents of six chil- 
dren, viz : James, father of William, the sub- 
ject : William ; Ann, wife of Jonathan Mor- 
gan, of Clark county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife 
of John King, a resident of Knox county. 
Indiana; Maria, wife of Albert Westfall, 
both deceased; Sarah, wife of Charles Scott, 
of Clark county. Ohio, who later moved to 
Grant county. Indiana. All are now de- 
ceased. 

James Bloxsom was a native of Belmont 
county, Ohio, where he was reared to man's 
estate. About 1828 he emigrated to Knox 
county. Indiana, locating near Vincennes. 
In 1 83 1 he was united in marriage to Anna 
Robinson, a native of Knox county, and 
daughter of Abner and Naomi Robinson. 
They settled in Vincennes where he opened 
a harness shop and engaged in business. In 
1843 he moved his family to Grant county. 
Indiana, locating in Washington township. 
He and his wife were the parents of the fol- 




MRS. WILLIAM BLOXSOM. 




WILLIAM BLOXSOM. 



\\'ELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



249 



lowing cliildren : Cynthia married Norman 
Gwinn, a native of Oregon, to wliich terri- 
tory she traveled, overland, in a wagon, with 
her uncle and aunt; Malinda, wife of James 
Crispin, of Jay county, settled near Penn- 
ville about 1852 : William, the subject of this 
sketch, will be more particularly referred to 
hereafter; Naomi, wife of John Flinn. of 
Grant county; James married Christena J. 
Tinsley in 1868. is now a resident of Not- 
tingham township. The mother of this 
family died on the old home place in Wash- 
ington township. Grant county, in the spring 
of 1848. Her husband did not long sur- 
vive her. dying on the same farm in 185 1. 

William Bloxsom, the subject of this 
sketch, was born near Vincennes, Knox 
county. Indiana. September 21. 1839. He 
was only nine years of age when his mother 
died and eleven at the death of his father. 
The orphan boy was placed in the care of 
his uncle and aunt, Jonathan and Ann Mor- 
gan, near Pennville. Jay county, where he 
remained until he was twenty-one years of 
age. He received a fair common-school edu- 
cation, such as the conditions of those days 
warranted, and on attaining his majority 
and going out into the world to do for him- 
self was not left wholly penniless by the 
good people who were his foster parents. 
October 25, i860, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary McDaniel, a native of Athens 
county, Ohio, born November 26, 1840. 

Abraham and Mary (Wymer) Mc- 
Daniel were the parents of Mary McDaniel. 
wife of William Bloxsom. They were na- 
tives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He 
was a son of Peter and Isabell McDaniels, 
who were also natives of Pennsylvania. 
They moved to Ohio in their married life 
and in that state Abraham grew to manhood 



and married Mary Wymer. In 1848 they 
moved to Darke county, Ohio, and in 1851 
settled in Nottingham township. Wells 
county, Indiana, and about 1856 he located 
in Penn township. Jay county, Indiana, and 
there died in 1868. They were the parents 
of four children, viz : Jemima, wife of D. H. 
Shinn. of Jay county; Jeptha married Sarah 
J. Shinn, of Blackford county ; Nahum mar- 
ried Melissa Dowley and moved to Okla- 
homa, where he died; Mary, wife of the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

After this marriage William Bloxsom 
and wife settled on forty acres of the farm 
which they now own and on which they live. 
It was in the woods and abounded in brush 
and ponds. A log cabin eighteen by twenty 
feet, put up by themselves, was their first 
home. They had two cows, one horse and a 
scanty supply of the rudest kind of house- 
hold furniture. Not even a cooking stove 
was to be found in their little home for more 
than two years after they were married. 
The first spring eight acres of cleared land 
was the result of their united labor. Jilrs. 
Bloxsom was in the clearing much of the 
time, doing her full share toward convert- 
ing the wilderness into a farm. By the time 
the first forty acres was cleared an oppor- 
tunity offered and they bought forty acres 
adjoining their place on the north. Then 
the process of improving this tract began 
and progressed with persistent steadiness. 
The first tract bought cost ten dollars per 
acre and it was paid for. in full, in the fall 
of 1864. He was materially aided in getting 
out of debt by the money he received as com- 
pensation for teaching in the winter months. 

On December 20, 1864. he became a vic- 
tim of the draft and joined Company H, 
Forty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. 



250 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



He followed Sherman from Savannah, 
Georgia, to Washington, where he took 
part in the grand review, May 24 and 25, 
1865. In Jul}' of the same year he was mus- 
tered out. Although he enjoyed fairly good 
health in the service, on returning home he 
was stricken with the ague and suffered so 
severely from it that by cold weather there 
was scarcely enough of him left to make a 
shadow. Nevertheless he managed to make 
a living and within a few years had the ad- 
ditional forty acres, on which he had ceased 
operation when he went into the army, 
cleared up. In 1868 he was elected justice 
of the peace and held the office one term. 
In 1880 he purchased another tract of land, 
sixty acres adjoining his place. In 1882 he 
built his present residence and in 1883 he 
built his barn. Both are substantial and last- 
ing improvements and add materially to the 
value of the farm. There are now one 
hundred and forty acres in the home place 
and he is the owner of forty acres in section 
33, Nottingham township. On his place 
there are six producing oil wells which yield 
him an income of about twenty-five dol- 
lars per month. He carries on general 
farming and live stock raising on his place, 
giving special attention to Poland China 
hogs, shorthorn and Jersey cattle and Shrop- 
shire sheep. About all the grain and hay 
that is raised on the place is fed to the stock. 
He has been frequently called during the 
past few years to assist in the settlement of 
estates and to act as guardian for minor 
heirs. For the past six years he has been 
a notary public. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Bloxsom five children 
have been born, viz: William F., born June 
I, 1863, died September 30, 1865; N. Le- 
ander, born March 5, 1865, married Hannah 



Wheeler, January 28, 1891, now resides at 
Bluffton, and have two children. Paul W. 
and Ralph T., aged nine and six years, re- 
spectively. The children make their home 
with their grandparents on the Bloxsom 
place; Anna L., born March 20, 1873, mar- 
ried Thomas Hobbs, a well driller, in 1896, 
and they reside in Jonesboro; Mary J., born 
August 27, 1875, married Charles Wheeler, 
and they have one child, Delores, eight 
months of age; they reside in Jonesboro; 
an infant son died before a name was con- 
ferred upon him. All of the children living 
have been given a good common school edu- 
cation. Both parents are members of the 
Christian church and are interested in re- 
ligious and charitable work. Mr. Bloxsom 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity at 
Pennville. In politics he is a Republican, 
as he expresses it himself, from start to 
finish. While never seeking office, he has 
frequently been honored by his party with 
a place on the county ticket and while he 
ran well, generally ahead of his party vote, 
the Democratic majority of Wells county is 
too strong to be easily overcome. His life 
has been an active one. It has been good 
and Iilameless. He has endeavored to do 
right at all times and came far nearer doing 
so than many others of greater pretention. 
He is a man well worthy of the distin- 
guished ancestry from which he sprang. 

Mr. Bloxsom has one of the best se- 
lected libraries in Wells county. It contains 
about two hundred volumes, selected from 
the best authors in history, biography, fic- 
tion, poetry, the sciences and also possesses 
very complete and exhaustive encyclopedias. 
He has also in his possession an old parch- 
ment deed, executed August 20, 1838', and 
bearing the signature of President Martin 




THE PROGRESSIVE FARMERS, RALPH AND PAUL BLOXSOM. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL-\NA. 



251 



Van Buren. Two of the grandsons of the 
subject, Rdlph T. and Paul W., though but 
lads, are possessed of splendid business 
ability. Recently they made a contract with 
the Mullen-Blackledge Company, of Indian- 
apolis, Indiana, to raise and deliver to them 
an acre of tomatoes, the land belonging to 
their grandfather. The product amounted 
to nineteen tons and thirteen hundred and 
seventy pounds, for which the boys received 
almost one hundred and forty dollars. They 
also raised almost forty dollars' worth of 
melons, thus enabling their grandfather to 
deposit in the bank almost one hundred and 
seventy-five dollars, subject to their order. 



JOSEPH UN RUE. 

A list of Jackson township's enterpris- 
ing farmers and prominent citizens would 
be incomplete if it did not include the name 
of the well known gentleman whose simple 
life story is told in these lines. A resident 
of Wells county since his twelfth year, he 
has literally grown up with the country, and 
few have been more active than he in be- 
half of the agricultural interests of the 
township which is proud to claim his citi- 
zenship. Joseph Unrue is an Ohio man and 
the son of George and Mary Unrue, who 
for many years were residents of Mont- 
gomery county, that state, the father a na- 
tive of Virginia. The subject's paternal 
grandparents were George and Catherine 
Unrue, who moved from Virginia to Ross 
county, Ohio, when their son George was 
about seven years of age. Subsequently the 
family moved to ^Montgomery county, 
where George, Jr., grew to maturity and 



married Mary Eubank, daughter of Heze- 
kiah and Christina Eubank, early settlers 
of that part of the state. 

By occupation George Unrue, Jr., was a 
stone mason, but later in life he devoted the 
most of his time to agricultural pursuits. 
In October, 1852, he came to Wells county, 
Indiana, and purchased a piece of woodland 
in Jackson township on which, with the 
aid of his son and the few neighbors in the 
vicinity, he hastily built a log cabin, six- 
teen by sixteen feet in area and six feet 
high. Into this rude dwelling of a single 
room his family was domiciled and during 
the first years of their residence eight acres 
were partially cleared and planted in corn. 
Mr. Unrue brought with him sufficient pro- 
vision for one year, obtaining his meat the 
meantime from the wild game with which 
the woods then abounded. In the course 
of a few years he had a comfortable home 
and in due time became one of the prosper- 
ous farmers of his township, as well as one 
of its most highly esteemed citizens. His 
wife died in 1878 and in 1894. after reach- 
ing a good old age, he too w-as called from 
the scenes of his earthly trials and suc- 
cesses. George and Mary Unrue were the 
parents of four children, three of whom are 
living, the subject of this sketch being the 
oldest of the family. John the second in 
order of birth, is a farmer of Jackson town- 
ship and lives on part of the old homestead; 
Henry, the third, is deceased, and Cather- 
ine, the youngest of the number, is the wife 
of Isaiah Barnes, of Warren, this state. 

Joseph Unrue was born in Montgomery 
county, Ohio, on the 24th of March, 1840. 
He received his preliminary education in 
the district schools of his native place and 
at the age of twelve was brought by his par- 



252 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



ents to Wells county, since which time, as 
already stated, his life has been very closely 
identified with the growth and development 
of Jackson township. Here he attended 
school a few months of each winter until 
reaching the age of eighteen, meanwhile 
assisting to clear the farm and tend the 
crops, proving a strong and willing hand at 
all kinds of work required in carving a 
home from the wilderness. When nineteen 
years old he began taking contracts for 
clearing land and in this way worked until 
his marriage, which was solemnized March 
25, i86ij with Miss Charlotte Athan, 
whose birth occurred in Jackson township 
in the year 1843. Mrs. Unrue is the daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Mary Athan. who moved 
to Ohio from Virginia in an early day and 
from the latter state to Wells county in 
1838. They were among the earliest set- 
tlers of Jackson township and spent the re- 
mainder of their lives on the land which 
Mr. Athan originally purchased from the 
government. Of their four children three 
are yet living, Mrs. Martha A. Webb, Mrs. 
Unrue and Wilson, a resident of the state 
of Washington; Hannah Eliza has been a 
number of years deceased. 

Mr. Unrue spent the first year of his mar- 
ried life with his father-in-law and during 
the ensuing ten years rented land of his 
wife's uncle. Thomas Athan. He then 
moved to his father's place, which he culti- 
vated alx)Ut ten years, and at the end of 
that time again took charge of his father- 
in-law's farm which he made his home until 
1872. In that year he purchased a small 
tract of land in section 6, Jackson township, 
on which he built a rough log cabin, but 
after occupying the place about one year 
sold out and later bought forty-five acres of 



the Athan farm. Moving to the latter, he 
farmed it in connection with rented land 
until 1889, when he changed his residence 
to the old family homestead for the purpose 
of taking care of his father in his old age. 
At the death of his father, Mr. Unrue 
took charge of the farm and from that time 
to the present he has been engaged in agri- 
culture and stock raising with most grati- 
fying results. He is a man of progressive 
tendencies and to say that he has made a 
success of life is to state what is apparent to 
all who know him or have heard of his in- 
dustrious habits and enterprising methods. 
Like a number of his neighbors and fellow 
citizens. John Unrue has the good fortune to 
live in one of the rich oil producing dis- 
tricts of Indiana and receives from thirty- 
five to fifty dollars per month income there- 
from. This has been a \-ery material aid 
to him and the prospects are fair for other 
wells and much larger income from the oil 
interests in the no distant future. As a 
stock raiser Mr. Unrue has made consider- 
able money, there being a large and con- 
stantly increasing demand for the fine 
breed of hogs to which, he has devoted much 
attention of recent years. As a citizen he 
enjoys the confidence and esteem of the 
community, holding worthy prestige as a 
neighbor and no one has ever had occasion 
to question the loyalty of his friendship. He 
is a good and just man. and has always en- 
deavored to square his life according to the 
precept of the Golden Rule and to do all the 
good within his power among those with 
whom he is brought in contact. Fraternally 
he belongs to Warren Lodge No. 392, I. O. 
O. F., and politically is and always has 
been a staunch supporter of the Democratic 
party. He is recognized as an effective 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



253 



worker in campaign years and, though by no 
means a seeker after the honors or emolu- 
ments of office, the people of his township 
elected him twice to the position of justice of 
the peace. After serving in that capacity for 
eight years and proving a most efficient dis- 
penser of justice, he resigned the office, re- 
fusing to fill out his second term. 

Mr. and Mrs. Unrue have had born to 
them seven children, but, as with the major- 
ity of families, the angel of death has 
crossed their threshold until there are only 
four of the number left : the names of these 
offispring are as follows: George, de- 
ceased: Xancy J. married William B. Mil- 
ler, who lives on a part of the home place 
and works in the oil fields: Jacob S. is de- 
ceased ; Mary L is the wife of Henry Zent, 
a resident of Jackson township; Hannah 
C, now Mrs. John M. Sprow, lives in the 
town of Warren, and Sarah E., who mar- 
ried Elam Sprow, a painter, residing on a 
part of the subject's farm. Mr. and 
Mrs. Unrue have in their possesion an old 
parchment sheepskin deed, executed under 
the administration of President Van Buren 
and bearing his signature. 



W. A. SHUAL\KER. 

The two most strongly marked char- 
acteristics of both the east and the west are 
combined in the residents of the section of 
country of which this volume treats. The 
enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all 
obstacles and makes possible almost any 
undertaking in the comparatively new and 
vigorous western states is here tempered by 
the stable and more conservative policy that 



we have borrowed from our eastern neigh- 
bors, and the combination is one of peculiar 
force and power. It has been the means of 
placing this section of the country on a par 
with the older east, at the same time pro- 
ducing a reliability and certainty in busi- 
ness afifairs which is frequently lacking in 
the west. This happy combination of char- 
acteristics is possessed by the subject of 
this brief review, W. A. Shumaker, of Har- 
rison township. Wells county. 

W. A. Shumaker is a native of Lincoln, 
Nebraska, and was born in 1868, the son of 
W. L. and Mary S. ( Home) Shumaker. 
The Shumaker family is originally of 
Scotch origin and in the subject is em- 
bodied the more prominent traits of that 
nationality. The subject's father was a man 
of good education and acquired considerable 
reputation as a teacher. During the war of 
the Rebellion he served in the postoffice de- 
partment and did much effective service in 
the line of duty. At the close of the war he 
left the Buckeye state and went into the 
poultry business in Jonesboro, Grant 
county, Indiana, and remained so engaged 
until his death. He was a good manager 
and acquired a fair share of this world's 
goods. He was the father of two sons, the 
subject and S. F. S. F. Shumaker was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Peru, Indi- 
ana, and was afterward engaged in the poul- 
try business at Warren, Indiana, and later 
at Bluffton. He is now at Chicago, Illi- 
nois, and connected with Armour & Com- 
pany. He has been twice married, first to 
Lena Sprowl, of Warren, and after her 
death to Miss Bessie Plessinger. the daugh- 
ter of Mayer Plessinger. 

W. A. Shumaker was given the advant- 
age of the common schools and acquired a 



254 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



good practical education. He early became 
identified with the poultry business, being 
employed by his father. Subsequently he 
was employed by the Home Produce Com- 
pany and still later by the firm of S. Tudor 
& Company, now managing the latter com- 
pany's business at Bluffton and Montpelier. 
By close attention to the details of the busi- 
ness and a watchful regard of his em- 
ployers' interests, he has won their confi- 
dence and is now given full charge of their 
business at the two places mentioned. The 
business has grown rapidly in the last few 
years and now amounts to very considerable 
proportions, being counted among the 
county's leading industries. 

The subject was united in marriage with 
Miss Constance J. Martin, of Warren, In- 
diana, and to them one daughter has been 
born, now an interesting and charming lit- 
tle miss of ten years. Fraternally Mr. 
Shumaker is a member of the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks and is also a 
member of Bluffton Lodge No. 92, K. of P. 
He is not a member of any church, but at- 
tends the Presbyterian church and is a lib- 
eral supporter of the same. In politics he 
is a straight Republican and takes a keen 
interest in the party's success, but does not 
actively participate in the campaign work, 
being satisfied with the casting of his ballot. 
He is an ardent admirer of outdoor sports 
and his vacations are passed with his rod 
and gun. He is of a jovial and happy dis- 
position and is blessed with a host of warm 
personal friends, who admire him not only 
for his pleasant disposition, but for the 
manly and exemplary qualities which are 
his. He has always been an honorable, up- 
right man, industrious, temperate and eco- 
nomical, has performed well his part as a 



factor in the body politic and no one ques- 
tions his standing as one of the leading citi- 
zens of his communitv. 



P. S. GREEN. 



The histor}' of the Hoosier state is not 
an ancient one. It is the record of the steady 
growth of a community planted in the wil- 
derness in the last century and reaching its 
magnitude of today without other aids than 
those of continued industry. Each county 
has its share in the story, and every county 
can lay claim to some incident or transac- 
tion which goes to make up the history of 
the commonwealth. After all, the history 
of a state is but a record of the doings of its 
people, among whom the pioneers and' the 
sturdy descendants occupy places of no sec- 
ondary importance. The story of the plain 
common people who constitute the moral 
bone and sinew of the state .should ever at- 
tract the attention and prove of interest to 
all true lovers of their kind. In the life 
story of the subject of this sketch there are 
no striking chapters or startling incidents, 
but it is merely the record of a life true to 
its highest ideals and fraught with much 
that should stimulate the youth just start- 
ing in the world as an independent factor. 

P. S. Green is a native of Wells county 
and a descendant of one of its old and 
highly respected pioneers. The American 
branch of the family appears to have had its 
origin in New York many years ago, and 
from there representatives moved west- 
ward, settling in Ohio. In the latter state 
was born James Green, who in young man- 
hood married Rebecca Koon^ the couple, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



255 



about 1842, moving to Wells county, Indi- 
ana, and settling in the township of Not- 
tingham. James Green cleared and devel- 
oped a farm from the dense woods in wdiich 
he originally built his cabin home, and in 
due time became one of the leading citizens 
of his community. After tilling the soil 
for some years he turned his attention to 
merchandizing, opening a general store in 
Nottingham township, which was highly 
prized by the people in that part of the 
county. For a while he prospered and 
made money, but later met with reverses 
which seriously crippled his business and 
caused the loss of the greater portion of his 
earnings. A man of much energy^ he re- 
fused to become discouraged and by suc- 
cessful management eventually rallied from 
his disaster and again succeeded in accumu- 
lating a comfortable competence, including 
a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
on which he lived for a number of years. 
Subsequently he took up his residence in 
Bluffton, where he spent the remainder of 
his days, honored and respected by all who 
knew him. 

James and Rebecca Green were the par- 
ents of ten children, namely: Mary A., 
Andrew, Amelia, James, Peter S., Char- 
lotte. Rebecca, Charles, Benjamin and 
Nancy E. Six of these children are still 
living, three being well known residents of 
Wells county. 

Peter S. Green, of this review, was 
born March 25. 1851, in Nottingham town- 
ship, and grew to young manhood on his 
father's farm. He attended the public 
schools of winter seasons until about the 
age of nineteen and then began working 
in a flouring mill with the object in view 
of learning the miller's trade. He followed 



the business for five years in his native 
county and then went to Michigan, where 
he spent two years similarly engaged, re- 
turning to Bluffton at the end of this time 
and entering the employ of John Van 
Horn. Later Mr. Green worked for John 
P. Clayton, with whom he remained about 
one year, and in 1880 went to work in a 
saw-mill for Jacob North, where he re- 
mained until about 1884. Severing his con- 
nection with his employer, he next turned 
his attention to carpentry and after follow- 
ing this trade two years, again engaged 
with Mr. North, in whose employ he contin- 
ued for some time to his financial advan- 
tage. Later Mr. Green bought grain for 
Studebaker, Sale & Co. at Markle for three 
or four years, also spending a year or more 
at Warren buying grain. In addition to the 
above brief outline of his active business 
career, he spent some time in the employ of 
M. D. Brown and in 1896 purchased the 
flouring-mill at Bluffton which he now 
owns and which he so successfully operates. 
Mr. Green has been a very busy man, and 
in the main success has crowned his efforts 
as miller. Since moving to Bluffton he has 
thoroughly remodeled his mill, supplying 
it with machinery for the manufacture of 
his White Rose brand of flour. He is fam- 
iliar with every detail of milling and by giv- 
ing his customers a superior article has not 
only built up an extensive business, but has 
placed himself in independent circum- 
stances financially. 

Mr. Green has been twice married, the 
first time in 1878 to Miss Hattie Bennett, 
daughter of R. C. Bennett, a union termin- 
ated by the death of the wife in 1885. Sub- 
sequently he entered into the marriage re- 
lation with Emma Estabrook, who has pre- 



256 



WELLS COUNTY, L\DL-\NA. 



sented him one child, Howard Dale Green, 
whose birth occurred on the loth of May, 
1890. Politically, Mr. Green is a Republi- 
can, but not an active party worker, having 
no taste in that direction: nevertheless he 
has pronounced convictions and keeps well 
posted on matters of state and national leg- 
islation, also reads much concerning the 
great political and industrial questions in 
which the people are interested at the pres- 
ent time. In every relation of life Mr. 
Green is known as an honest, incorruptible 
man, who has ever tried to do his duty as he 
sees and understands it, and whose word 
wherever he is known has all the sanctity of 
a written obligation. Li the most liberal 
sense of the term, he is an optimist, and be- 
lieves in getting out of life all the enjoy- 
ment and sunshine possible to be had. Social 
to an eminent degree and popular with all 
classes, he numbers his warm personal 
friends by the score and all who come with- 
in the range of his influence pronounce him 
the soul of honor and a prince of good fel- 
lowship. He has made the world brighter 
and better by his presence and when the 
time comes for him to cease life's labors and 
join the great majority, he will be sadly 
missed by those whose burdens he light- 
ened, and into whose pathway he cast so 
many garlands of love and joy. 



THOMAS W. WHEELER. 

Few citizens of Wells county are more 
entitled to the term "self made man" than 
the subject of this review. His rise from a 
condition of obscurity to a conspicuous place 
among the leading agriculturists of his town- 



ship shows him to be the possessor of an en- 
terprising spirit of high order, while his re- 
spectable social standing attests the esteem 
in which he is held by the people with 
whom he mingles. Thomas W. Wheeler is 
an Indianian by adoption, being a native of 
Bedford county. North Carolina, where his 
birth took place on the 17th day of June, 
1863. His father was Thomas Wheeler, a 
descendant of one of the old families of the 
Old North state, and his mother, Sarah J. 
McFarland, was also born and reared in that 
commonwealth. These parents were mar- 
ried in their native county and continued to 
live there until the breaking out of the Great 
Rebellion, when Mr. Wheeler was impressed 
into the Confederate service, although a 
Union man in sentiment. Determined not 
to fight against his convictions, he deserted 
one night while on guard duty and after a 
long and trying experience finally made his 
way northward as far as Henry county, 
Indiana, where he concluded to remain until 
the close of the war. For several years he 
supported himself by working at the car- 
penter's trade and earned the reputation of 
an industrious and skillful mechanic. As 
soon as conditions in tlie South would per- 
mit, he sent for his family and in due time 
the domestic circle was reunited, after which 
Mr. Wheeler settled on a farm and engaged 
in agriculture in connection with his trade. 
The family remained in Henry county until 
1872 when they removed to the county of 
Jay, settling in Penn township, where Mr. 
and Mrs. M. Wheeler and several of their 
children still reside. Thomas and Sarah 
Wheeler have reared a very large family, 
fourteen children in all, of whom nine are 
living, namely: Julian F.. Walter, Thomas 
W., John A., Chnrles, Edgar, Anna, Mary 




MRS. T. "W. WHEELER. 




T. W. WHEELER AND DAUGHTER. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL-VNA. 



257 



and Joseph ; the names of those deceased are 
William, Ernest, Hannah and Allie. 

Thomas W. Wheeler was born while his 
father was in the Confederate service and 
was about three years old when the family 
moved to Indiana. The surprise when he 
and his father first met was mutual, neither 
having seen the other up to that time. Of 
course the child did not know his parent 
and it required several days to establish a 
friendship for him. Thomas being one of 
the older boys, much of the family support 
fell to him as soon as he was able to work, 
in consequence of which his educational ad- 
vantages were considerably limited. He was 
permitted to attend the district schools until 
his thirteenth year and then began working 
for a farmer in the neighborhood, turning 
one-half of his earnings into the family fund. 
He continued as a farm laborer at monthly 
wages until attaining his majority, during 
the greater part of which time he was in the 
employ of Joseph Hudson, one of the prom- 
inent and well-to-do men of Blackford 
county. Meanwhile, having accumulated 
sufficient means to justify him in taking a 
companion for life's journey, Mr. Wheeler, 
on the 1st day of February. 1890, was united 
in marriage to Miss Eva McDaniel, after 
which he began farming for himself on a 
part of his father-in-law's place in the county 
of W'ells. Ten years later he moved to his 
present farm adjoining to the McDaniel 
homestead and in 1902 purchased the latter 
place, making his real estate at the present 
time one hundred and four acres, nearly all 
of which is in cultivation. Mr. \Vheeler be- 
gan with nothing and the beautiful home 
which he now owns is the well-merited re- 
sult of his honest toil and successful man- 
agement. On his place are a number of pro- 



ducing oil wells from the proceeds of which 
he receives a liberal share of his income and 
in connection with farming he devotes con- 
siderable attention to the oil industry, hav- 
ing a complete mechanical outfit for driving 
and drawing pipes. He does this kind of 
work of winter seasons and at odd times 
and has made it \-ery remunerative, being 
one of the most efficient workman in the oil 
fields. Mr. Wheeler has made a success of 
raising live stock and takes great interest in 
all matters which promise good to the agri- 
cultural interests of his township and county. 
Politically he is a Republican and since his 
twenty-first year has been an acti\-e worker 
in the party. Fraternally he is a member of 
the Odd Fellows order. Leaf Lodge No. 
145, at Pennville, Indiana, also belonging 
to the encampment degree, in which, as in 
the subordinate lodge, he has been honored 
with high official station. Mr. and Mrs. 
Wheeler have two children, Vida, born on 
the 28th of October, 1895, 3-"^ an infant 
that died unnamed. 

Mrs. Wheeler was born April 9, 1870, 
and is the daughter of x\lexander and Fran- 
ces (Dawley) McDaniel. Mr. McDaniel 
was born December 29, 1815, in Bedford 
county, Pennsylvania, of which state his 
parents, Amos and Catherine McDaniel, 
were also natives. He grew to Inanhood in 
the county of Bedford and there married 
Mar)- Evans, of whom he had four children, 
Louisa, deceased, Harvey, Amanda, de- 
ceased, and Catherine. The mother of these 
children dying in 1853, Mr. McDaniel sub- 
sequently took a wife in the person of Miss 
Frances Dawley, who was born September 
22, 1832, the daughter of Gideon and Lucy 
Dawley, natives of Rhode Island. These 
parents lived to a good old age, the father 



258 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



dying at ninety-four, the mother in her 
ninety-first year. In an early day, Mr. Mc- 
Daniel came to Wells county, Indiana, set- 
tling on eighty acres of wild land from which 
he cleared a fine farm and on which his death 
occurred in 1899, his wife dying on the and 
day of August, 1894. His second marriage 
resulted in three children, Amos, Lucy and 
Eva. 



LEWIS C. ABSHIRE. 

One begins to realize that the good old 
state of Indiana is growing old, as well as 
some of her people, when he finds a family 
which has inhabited the state for five gen- 
erations. Such a family is that of Lewis 
C. Abshire, the subject of this sketch, who 
was born in Nottingham township. Wells 
county, Indiana, July 4, 1861. His father 
was C. B. Abshife, a native of Henry county, 
Indiana, but who was one of the first settlers 
of Wells county. ■ The wife of C. B. Abshire, 
mother of Lewis C, was Julia A. Jones, a 
native of Wells county, and she was the 
daughter of Michael and Nancy (Abshire) 
Jones, who were among the first settlers of 
Wells. Dawson, the son of Lewis C. Ab- 
shire, now in his thirteenth year, is of the 
third generation from Michael and Nancy 
Jones. 

Lewis C. Abshire was not any more for- 
tunate than some other children in that mat- 
ter of procuring an education. Two counties 
had combined to supply the schools of Har- 
rison township, Blackford county, and 
Chester township. Wells county. At the age 
of fifteen he quit school and has devoted 
himself ever since to labor. When seven- 
teen years of age he went out to work by the 



month, his parents permitting him to have 
full control of his wages. After working one 
season for Lemuel Tate, in Chester town- 
ship, he went to Kansas and was employed 
there three years. The region of hot winds, 
cyclones and prohibition did not fulfill the 
measure of his requirements as a home, so 
he returned after three years and entered 
the employ of J. C. Maddox, in Chester 
township. He and his mother jointly owned 
a tract of forty acres of land in Chester 
township, and about this time they sold it. 
With his share of the purchase money he 
bought a tract of one hundred acres, the 
same on which he now resides. This he has 
improved by clearing and ditching it into a 
very fine farm. For two or three years after 
purchasing this place he cultivated it, making 
his home with the family of his hired man. 

On February 22, 1885, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Emma Dawson, who was 
bom April 7, 1863. She is the daughter of 
George and Louisa (Lockwood) Dawson, 
and is now a resident of Union City. Mrs. 
Dawson died when her daughter Emma was 
an infant of only one year, and the young 
people immediately took up their residence 
upon the farm and there they have lived ever 
since. Mr. Abshire has been very successful 
in his business of farming, raised large crops 
of grain, hay and vegetables, also breeding 
and feeding cattle, horses, hogs and sheep. 
All of his life has been devoted to the culti- 
vations of the soil and caring for his flocks 
and herds. When the oil fever was at its 
height he devoted some time and money to it 
and derived some benefit therefrom, but he 
recognized the fact that the production of 
oil in this region is a thing of the past. 

At this time Lewis C. Abshire is the 
owner of a splendid farm of two hundred 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



259 



and twenty acres, well improved as to effi- 
cient drainage and substantial buildings. It 
is a sure crop getter, failures or even partial 
failures being practicall}' unknown. He and 
his wife are the parents of one son, Dawson, 
a Ijright, intelligent youth now in his thir- 
teenth year, born September 16, 1890. The 
family are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, with membership at Shinn 
chapel. In politics Mr. Abshire is a Repub- 
lican and always sufficiently interested in the 
success of his party to take a hand in the 
campaign. On a number of occasions he 
has been a delegate to congressional conven- 
tions and generally represents his township 
in the county convention. He is a live, en- 
ergetic, intelligent man, whose work is al- 
ways effective and whose promises are in- 
variablv fulfilled. 



SIMON BOWER. 



At present a farmer, but by trade a car- 
penter, Simon Bower, of Nottingham town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, was born in 
Amanda township. Fairfield county, Ohio, 
August 30, 1848, a son of Joel and Susan 
(Shoemaker) Bower. 

Joel Bower was born in Pennsylvania, 
a son of Simon and Hannah Bower, and lo- 
cated in Ohio when a young man ; there he 
married Miss Shoemaker, a native of the 
Buckeye state, and a daughter of Henry 
Shoemaker, and settled down for awhile at 
his trade of making shoes, a fact that his son 
well remembers from having been frequently 
brought into contact with his father's knee- 
strap. In 1853 Joel Bower brought his 
family to Wells county. Indiana, and pur- 



chased eighty acres of wild woodland a 
mile and a half southwest of Reififsburg. His 
first dwelling was a hewed-log house, twen- 
ty by twenty-four feet, one and one-half 
stories, chinked with mud and covered with 
a lap-shingle roof. He made an effort to 
continue at his trade, but the patronage not 
being ample for the support of his family, 
he had recourse to the practice of the neigh- 
boring pioneers and began clearing up his 
land, a task he finally accomplished, and 
eventually became the owner of five hundred 
and twenty acres, on which he passed the re- 
mainder of his life. 

To Joel and Susan (Shoemaker) Bower 
were born eleven children, viz : Henry, 
Simon, the subject, E. J.. Rebecca, deceased, 
Israel and Hannah, twins, Israel dying in 
infancy. Willison died in childhood, Jacob, 
Noah, Mahala, and Frank, the last named 
also deceased. Mrs*. Susan Bower was called 
away in the course of time, and Joel took for 
his second wife Cynthia Arnold, who still 
survives and is the mother of two children, 
Joel D. and Cynthia, the former of whom 
died in 1896. 

Simoii Bower attended school in Not- 
tingham township during the winter season 
or whenever he had an opportunity of do- 
ing so. until he was twenty-one years old. 
and acquired a better knowledge of mathe- 
matics than is usually the case in rural dis- 
tricts. From childhood he had always had 
a desire to learn the carpenter's trade and on 
attaining his majority began learning this 
branch of mechanical industry. Prior to 
this time he had felt himself to be quite 
wealthy when he was the possessor of a 
quarter dollar, but in the fall of the year in 
which he became of age he went to Ohio 
and worked, principally at carpentering, for 



26o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



nine months, saved the surpkis of his earn- 
ings over the cost of his hving, and became 
an employe of David Lukins, also as a car- 
penter. The following spring he began 
work on a barn for Alexander DeLong, and 
when that was completed built a barn for 
David Cellsor, a task which occupied him for 
about a month, and then began business on 
his own account as a contractor and builder, 
and continued in this line until 1879. 

In tlie meantime Simon Bower was 
joined in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Mov- 
er, who was born .\ugust 31, 1852, on a 
farm adjoining that on which he and family 
now live. Mrs. Sarah C. (Mover) Bower 
is a daughter of William and Mary E. Moy- 
er, the former of whom was born in Ohio 
and the latter in Pennsylvania, but was taken 
to Ohio by her parents when she was nine 
years old. AVilliam and Mary E. Mo)'er 
both came to Wells county with their par- 
enst' families respectively, grew to matur- 
ity, were here married, and here passed the 
remainder of their lives. They had born to 
them two children, viz : Sarah C, now Mrs. 
Simon Bower, and Eliza. 

On marrying, Simon Bower settled on 
the farm he now occupies, the only structure 
thereon being a hewed-log house, si.x- 
teen by eighteen feet, and one and a 
half stories high, the corners and every- 
thing else being prepared in advance and 
ready to be raised, the only time this was 
ever done in the township. Mr. Bower forth- 
with cleared up fifteen acres of his land and 
placed upon it all the improvements, which, 
now include a handsome modern dwelling 
and all necessary farm buildings. The ditch- 
ing of the place has been a matter of special 
attention, and he probably has more rods of 
ditching than has been done on any farm of 



the same dimensions in the townships of 
Nottingham and Harrison, in the latter of 
which forty-eight acres of his eighty-eight 
are situated. 

Besides general farm products, Mr. Bow- 
er raises large numbers of cattle and hogs, 
but makes a specialty of the latter, giving 
preference to Chester Whites, of which he 
last year sold nearly seven hundred dollars' 
worth : his cattle are chiefly of the Red 
Polled strain, and he feeds nearly all his 
grain to his live stock, finding it to be more 
profitable to sell the fattened stock than the 
grain itself. Still Mr. Bower finds time to do 
all his own carpenter work, thus saving the 
expenditure of many a dollar. To Simon 
and Sarah C. Bower have been born four 
children, viz: Samuel, born September 11, 
1872, and married to Leave Lyons: John 
\\'., born December 27, 1876, and now the 
husband of -Mary Speheger; James ]\I.. born 
June 9, 1880, and Irene L., born January- 
30, 1891. 

Mr. and Mrs. Simon Bower are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 
politics Mr. Bower is a Prohibitionist, hav- 
ing been an advocate of its princi]:)les for 
the past fifteen years. He has not used to- 
bacco in any form since 1871 and has not 
once swallowed a glass of whiskey sold at 
a saloon. 

William Moyer, the father of Mrs. Sar- 
ah C. Bower, was born in Pickaway county, 
Ohio, a son of Jonatiian and Mary Moyer, 
natives of Pennsylvania. ■ William Moyer 
came to Wells county, Indiana, in 1849, 
with his parents, and here married Mary 
Reifif April 9, 1851. Mary Reiff was a 
daughter of John and Susannah Reiff, who 
came from' Pennsylvania to Wells county. 
Indiana, in 1845. '^"d settled near the pres- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



261 



ent town of Reiffsburg, which town was laid 
out by John Reiff and named in liis honor. 
Mr. Mover passed the remainder of his life 
on his farm, but his widow still survives at 
the age of seventy-three }ears. being still 
(juite strong and active. 



GEORGE DULINSKY. 

W^eaving, like spinning, in the homes 
of the country is a thing of the past. Yet less 
than forty years ago it was no very rare 
thing to hear, on approaching a farm house, 
the hum of the spinning wheel or the rattle 
of the shuttle in the loom. Of either accom- 
plishment, weaving or spinning, the present 
generation knows comparatively nothing. 
In the early settlement of Indiana weaving 
was a species of skilled labor much in de- 
mand. William Dulinsky, father of George, 
the subject of this sketch, was a weaver and 
put his knowledge of the business to good 
use while clearing his land and making a 
home for his family in Wells county during 
the "fifties. 

George Dulinsky. the subject hereof, 
was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, July 
26, 1844. He was the son of William Dulin- 
sky, a native of Poland who came to America 
when a lad of only fourteen years. William's 
first employment in this country was in a 
woolen mill in the east. He was a steady 
lad. observant and quick to learn, and when 
given an oportunity to learn weaving he 
made the most of it. Becoming an expert 
wea\er, he decided to try his fortune in the 
west. He secured a position in his business 
in Pickaway county, Ohio, where he met and 
married Miss Marv Leist, a native of the 



same place. She was a daughter of George 
and Barbara Leist, natives of Pennsylvania, 
but had come to Ohio and made settlement 
there early in life. They spent the remain- 
ing years of their lives in their new home in 
Ohio. 

For a number of years after their mar- 
riage, Mr. and Mrs. William Dulinsky con- 
tinued to reside in Pickaway county, he 
working at his trade of weaving. Finally, 
in 1850, he moved his family to Wells coun- 
ty. Indiana, bought a farm of forty acres in 
the woods of Nottingham township and pro- 
ceeded to make a home. A log cabin, stable 
and five acres of cleared land were all the 
improvements there were on the place. For 
fifteen years this constituted the home of 
the family. During this time \\'illiam Du- 
linsky equipped an apartment which he de- 
voted to the business of weaving. He was 
about the only weaver in that region and 
consequently had plenty to do. In 1864 he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
timber lands west of where his son George, 
the subject of this sketch, now resides. This 
place he cleared, improved and occupied until 
his death, which occurred in 1891. He fol- 
lowed the business of weaving until 1881, 
when he gave it up as unprofitable and no 
longer of much use in a country place. Mrs. 
Dulinsky is still living on the old home place. 
She is eighty-four years old, but strong and 
active. She is the mother of five children, 
four of whom are still living. George, the 
subject hereof, is the oldest of the family: 
Samuel and Levi both reside on the old home 
place: Ellen is dead and Barbara resides 
with her mother. 

The opportunities for receiving a,n edu- 
cation afiforded to George Dulinsky were by 
no means all that could be desired. In those 



262 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'VNA. 



days the pulMic schools of Nottingham town- 
ship was open only three months in the 
year. These three months, however, were 
utilized by George to the very best advan- 
tage. He attended the sessions right along 
up to the time that he was nineteen years of 
age. A year previous he began working out 
by the month, but continued to make his 
home with his parents. On June 27, 1869, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen 
Yarger, who was born in Ohio, November 
22, 1842. She was the daughter of Joseph 
and Margaret Yarger, old settlers of Wells 
county, but both now deceased. The first 
year of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Du- 
linsky occupied the William Oswart farm, 
the next three years he cultivated his father's 
farm and for the next four years he was on 
the McClain place. By this time he had ac- 
cumulated sufficient money to purchase a 
place of his own. He bought sixty acres of 
timber land, paying four hundred dollars 
cash and going in debt for as much more. 
This he has cleared and improved and upon 
it he now resides. 

When they started in life at the time of 
their marriage, the Dulinskys were owners 
of very little property. He had a two-year- 
old colt and two pigs and she had a cow. 
From this small beginning they have by hard 
work and good management secured a very 
fair start in life. In 1880, after buying their 
place, he built a round-log house eighteen 
by twenty-four feet, and a pole barn. Both 
were raised the ^ame day. While clearing 
his land he continued to rent some ground, 
farmed it and made a good living for his 
family. He also worked at ditching and such 
other employment as he could secure. He is 
now the owner of a well improved farm of 
eighty acres, seventy of which is under cul- 



tivation. In 1895 he erected a handsome, 
comfortable home and a substantial, commo- 
dious barn upon the place. He carries on gen- 
eral farming and stock raising, prefers Po- 
land China hogs, but is of the opinion the 
better success is secured by a mixture with 
the Chester White. The ordinary run ot 
cattle he considers quite good enougli to at- 
tain success with on the farm, if the pro- 
ducts are fed instead of being sold. On his 
place he has six oil wells from which he 
realizes a nice little sum each month. Farm- 
ing has been his life work and he has made 
it profitable. 

Along toward the latter days of the war, 
in 1865, George Dulinsky was drafted for 
service in the Federal army and taken to 
Wabash. It was the last call made for 
troops and was most peremptory. He and 
thirteen others were taken forthwith with- 
out getting any time whatever to adjust 
their affairs. Only seven were needed, but 
fourteen were drawn. The seven were se- 
cured from his fellow victims of the draft 
before Mr. Dulinsky's turn on the list came, 
so he was permitted to return home without 
a uniform. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dulinsky six children 
have been born, viz : Orlando, born Decem- 
ber 10, 1869, married Delia Ira, now lives 
in Nottingham township and is working 
in the oil fields ; Mary Estella died in child- 
hood ; Emma, born June 29, 1875, married 
Bert Kelley and now resides in Nottingham 
township : she is the mother of two children, 
Lelo F. and Marion; Lewis was born June 
13, 1878, and resides at home with his 
parents : Xora died in infancy ; Oscar died 
in childhood. In politics George Dulin- 
sky is a Democrat, always votes the ticket 
and warms up some during the heat 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



263 



of the political campaign. In local affairs, 
however, he prefers to be independent and 
vote for the man. He is a man who com- 
mands the respect and esteem of all his fellow 
citizens. 



O. R. WILLLVMS. 



This young and prosperous farmer of 
Jackson township. Wells county, Indiana, 
was born September 17, 1870, two miles 
south of Bluffton, on the state road, in the 
same count}-. J. ^\^ Williams, father of 
O. R. ^^'illiams, was a native of Fairfield 
county. Ohio, a son of Jesse Williams, and 
while still single came to Wells county, In- 
diana, about the year 1865, and began 
working at bridge building and also at cab- 
inetmaking, in Bluffton, although h^ had 
been reared a blacksmith by his father, who 
was noted for his skill in this branch of the 
mechanical arts. He married, about 1867, 
Miss Martha Vennemmon, whose mother is 
still living at the age of ninety years. 

After marriage J. W^ Williams located 
on the farm two miles south of Bluffton, 
where his son, O. R. Williams, was born, 
but four years later came to Jackson town- 
ship, and here lost his wife, June 10, 1884. 
In the September following, Mr. \Villiams 
married Mrs. Kittle Smith, who still lives 
to share with him the blessings as well as 
the sorrows of life. In igoo J. W. 
Williams retired from farm life and now 
lives in Warren, enjoying in peace and com- 
fort the competency his early industry 
gained him. To the first marriage of J. W. 
Williams were born three children, namely : 
Adrian, now a resident of Jackson town- 



ship; O. R., whose name opens this biog- 
raphy, and William, who has his residence 
in Idaho. To the second marriage there 
has been no issue. 

O. R. Williams attended the district 
schools of Jackson township, Wells county, 
Indiana, until he was seventeen years of 
age and assisted in the cultivation of the 
home place until he was twenty, when he 
went to the city of Butte, Montana, and 
worked in a smelter for a year, then re- 
turning to Wells county. Here he and his 
father purchased sixty acres of the farm on 
which he now lives, but which was then all 
in the woods. He set himself energetically to 
work and cleared off all but ten acres and in 
July, 1898, purchased his father's interest 
in the place. 

In 1901 Mr. Williams erected a substan- 
tial and commodious barn on his farm and 
in 1902 began the erection of an elegant 
residence. He rents out his farming land, 
however, and devotes his attention to his oil 
v\-ells, of which he owns five producers, 
which bring him in twenty-five to thirty 
dollars each per month, and he has not lost 
a day at this industry for the past three 
years. 

Mr. Williams was joined in marriage 
November 2;^, 1893, with Miss Emma 
Slusher, a daughter of Josiah and Naomi 
Slusher, whose biography will be found on 
another page of this volume To this happy 
marriage have been born four children, to- 
wit: Fred, November 8, 1894; Arthur, 
September 30, 1897; Howard, March 26, 
1900: and an infant daughter, born Octo- 
ber 10, 1902. 

Mr. Williams is a member of Lodge No. 
784, I. O. O. F., at McNatts. and in poli- 
tics is a Republican. He is one of the re- 



264 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



spected young men in Jackson township, as 
it is well known that he has made all he is 
worth through his personal exertions, he 
having had nothing at the start, and having 
made his first "stake" of four hundred dol- 
lars while in Montana. His industry and 
strict integrity have always been matters of 
commendatiDu h}' his neighbors, and he and 
his estimaljle wife are held in the highest 
regard by all classes of the community. 



NATHAN MACY SCOTT. 

The years of the Civil war in America 
frustrated more plans for young people than 
any other years in our history. Afifairs of 
the heart and the plans growing out of them 
were not the only affairs of j^oung people 
that sufTered by the strife going on during 
this period south of the Ohio river. The 
life course of thousands of young men was 
materially changed by a term of service in 
the army. Few youths who entered the 
army were able, when they returned, to 
carry out their plans as at first contemplated. 
One who came about as near doing so as any, 
probably, was Nathan Macy Scott, of Not- 
tingham township. Wells county, the subject 
of this sketch. As a young man, in i860, 
his purpose was to secure a good, liberal 
education, and the breaking out of hostilities 
found him alternately teaching and being 
taught : that is, he taught school in the win- 
ter and in the summer and fall attended 
school, himself, as a student. When the 
boys returned from the war, of all his com- 
rades in arms he was about the only one not 
too proud to go back to his desk in the school 
room and to his studies. 



Nathan Macy Scott was born February 
21, 1842, in Penn township. Jay county, 
Indiana. He was the son of Stanton and 
Esther (Edmondson) Scott, and his pater- 
nal grandparents were Joshua and Abigal 
(Stanton) Scott. Joshua Scott was a native 
of Scotland, emigrated to North Carolina 
when a young man, and married Abigal 
Stanton, who was an aunt of President Lin- 
coln's secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton. 
Joshua was by trade a blacksmith, but de- 
voted the latter part of his life to agricul- 
tural pursuits. Stanton Scott, father of the 
subject, was born June 26, 1807, grew to 
manhood in Clark county, Ohio, and there 
married Ester Edmonson, daughter of 
Thomas and Elizabeth (Morsel) Edmonson, 
the father of English ancestry, the mother 
of Irish. After his marriage Stanton Scott 
settled on a farm in Logan county, Ohio, 
where he remained a few years. In 1841 
he moved to Jay county, Indiana, and lived 
there three years on a rented farm. While 
still renting in Jay county, he secured eighty 
acres of land in Wells county, the same on 
which his son Thomas now lives, deadened 
some of the timber, preparatory to clearing, 
and built a log cabin. In the spring of 1845 
he moved to this farm, at that time there 
being no human habitation on the road all 
the way from Pennville. His cabin was 
eighteen by twenty-two feet in size, built of 
round logs, "chinked" and plastered with 
clay. The entire personal property of the 
family consisted of two cows, two horses, 
some chickens and a few necessary articles 
of household furniture. Stoves in those days 
were not much in use and all the cooking 
was done at the big fireplace. Although but " 
three years of age at this time, Nathan M. 
Scott well remembers the neighbors and 





V 


^4'* 


m- ^^^M 








1^1 



NATHAN M. SCOTT. 




MRS. NATHAN M. SCOTT. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



265 



where their homes were located. Joseph 
Wilhamson Hved one and a fourth miles 
southeast, Darius Shinn's home was a mile 
south, John Dawson lived one and a half 
miles northeast, Joseph Blunt and Michael 
Jones about one and a half miles northwest. 
There were no public roads at this time ex- 
cept the old state road, which was merely an 
Indian trail. Stanton Scott died August 24, 
1855. leaving a widow and seven children, 
the oldest being seventeen years of 
age. One son, Thomas, was fifteen years 
v^ld and Nathan was but thirteen years of 
age at the time of their father's death. The 
bereaved mother, though by no means physi- 
cally strong, determined to keep her little 
ones together. With her untiring exertions 
and the assistance of her oldest daughter 
and two sons, she was successful in doing so. 
The children were Mary, deceased ; Thomas, 
who now lives on the old home place; 
Nathan, the subject ; Elizabeth married B. 
L. DeWeese, of Balbec; Joshua, a resident 
of Nottingham township ; Elma J. ; Rebecca, 
deceased. The good mother lived to see all 
of her surviving children comfortably settled 
in life, dying July 4, 1896, aged eighty-six 
years, one month and twenty days. She was 
a devout member of the Friends church and 
was a woman of good intellect and splendid 
memory. In the early years of her woman- 
hood, before her marriage, she was a school 
teacher. She and her husband. Stanton 
Scott, were married September 21, 1836. 
At the time of their settlement in the woods 
of Wells county the denizens of the forest 
were disposed to be neighborly. Porcupines, 
ground hogs and 'possums burrowed under 
their cabin and made their home there. 
Pennville. which was then called Camden, 
was the nearest town and was nine miles 



distant. The postage on a letter at that time 
was eighteen cents, and pennies were a great 
deal harder to pick up then than now. 

The district schools furnished Nathan 
AI. Scott his education. They were open 
onl}' three months in the year, but he con- 
tinued his attendance upon them until he 
was twenty-two years of age. When not in 
school he had plenty of work to do on the 
farm. In the spring of 1864 he attended 
school at Liber College, near Portland, Indi- 
ana, and it was his purpose to again attend 
in the fall. He entered the school in Sep- 
tember, but on October 13, 1864. he entered 
the United States service as a volunteer, en- 
listing in the Fifty-third Regiment, Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered 
out in the fall of 1865 and on coming home 
was preparing to enter college again when 
he was taken down by typhoid fever. By 
the time he recovered the term had pro- 
gressed so far he did not care to enter, so 
he secured a school and taught that winter. 
From that time until 1873 he taught school 
in the winter and attended school as a stu- 
dent during the months of spring and fall. 

October 11, 1873, Mr. Scott was united 
in marriage to Miss Tacy J. Lewis, born 
May 8, 1855, in Jay county, Indiana, a 
daughter of Lorenzo and Elizabeth 
(Haines) Lewis, who were both natives of 
Monroe county, Ohio, the former born Oc- 
tober 28, 1828, the latter July 4, 1830. Lor- 
enzo Lewis's parents were Emery and Rach- 
ael (Thomas) Lewis, of Welsh ancestry, 
and his wife's parents were Timothy and 
Hannah (Tomlinson) Haines, of English 
ancestry. They were all old residents of 
Pennsylvania, and Hannah lived to see the 
fifth generation. To Lorenzo Lewis and 
his wife six children were born, all of whom 



266 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



are yet living, viz: Tacy J., wife of 
the subject: Emery G., a resident of 
Jay county: Hilintla, wife of Solomon 
Grable; Edwin W. resides in Jay 
county. The parents of these children, in 
1850, moved to Jay county, where they re- 
mained until their deaths: Elizabeth died 
April 4, 1870: Lorenzo survived her eight 
years, payng the debt of nature May i, 
"1878. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Scott located on the farm where they now 
reside. He taught one term of school after 
his marriage, but has since devoted his time 
entirely to his farm. In 1873 he was elected 
justice of peace and served one term of four 
years, since which time he has held no of- 
ficial position whatever. To him and his 
wife two children have been born, \'iz : 
Elveretta, born Fel)ruary 5, 1875 • ^^'- Tarl- 
ton, born August 13, 1878, took a commer- 
cial course in the Eastern Indiana Univers- 
ity at Muncie. Both still reside with their 
parents. Elveretta is a graduate of Penn- 
ville high school and is quite proficient in 
music, to which accomplishment she has de- 
voted much time. 

Nathan iM. Scott is the owner of one 
hundred and si.xty acres of land in Notting- 
ham township. It is a fine, well improved 
farm, one hundred and twenty acres of 
which is under cultivation and it is managed 
and operated by him and his son. In 1894 
he built a large, substantial and commodious 
barn. He de\-otes his attention to general 
farming, raising grain and breeding and 
feeding live stock. His favorite stock is 
Duroc hogs and shorthorn cattle and with 
these, of late years, he keeps his farm well 
stocked. He is a member of the Friends 
church, and Mrs. Scott had been brought up 



in that faith. In politics he is a Republican 
and active in the interests of his party. To 
vote for a good man or a number of them 
is always a real pleasure to him and he never 
misses an opportunity of exercising his right 
of franchise. He has been a delegate many 
times to dififerent conventions, always in the 
interest of some friend, and in 1872 was 
elected justice of the peace. He is a member 
of Lew Dailey Post, G. A. R., at BlufTton, 
and never loses jm opportunity to benefit a 
veteran of the Civil war. All of his leisure 
time is employed in reading and, having an 
exceptionally good memory, his mind is a 
storehouse of knowledge of many kinds. 
While frustrated somewhat in the design of 
securing a first-class education, he is much 
better informed than many who boast of far 
more learning. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have in 
their possession an old parchment deed bear- 
ing the signature of President Van Buren 
and executed November 10, 1840. 



lOHN BOOHER. 



John Booher, deceased, was born June 
I, 18 1 6, in Westmoreland county, Penn- 
sylvania, where he grew to manhood. From 
the place of his birth he came to Jefiferson 
county, Ohio, spending his boyhood on the 
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He married 
Phoebe J. Blazer, a descendant of New Jer- 
sey stock. His wife was a daughter of 
Joseph Blazer, of New Jersey, the marriage 
taking place in 1884 in Jefferson county, 
Ohio, where he settled down to the voca- 
tion of a farmer. After twelve years of 
marriage, in 1856 his wife, Phoebe Jane, 
died, leaving three living children of the 
five which had been born to their union: 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



267 



William, born January i, 1840, in Jefferson 
county, Ohio; Nancy Ann, deceased; John 
A., born December 25, 1850; Mary M., the 
wife of Francis M. Carter, a farmer in sec- 
tion 22, Jackson township; they have three 
living children, John, Nancy and Ida; 
Joseph, the fifth child and youngest son of 
John and Phoebe J. Booher, was buried 
with his mother in the same grave. John 
Booher was married a second time, taking 
for his wife Joanna Rouse, a native of 
Jefferson county, Ohio, born April 26, 1833, 
this second marriage taking place about the 
vear 1857. In 1862 they removed to Wells 
county, Indiana, and settled on the farm he 
now occupies, which was then owned by 
Jack Studebaker, from whom he rented for 
a period of eleven years, clearing up a large 
portion of the land the meantime. He then 
moved onto the farm now owned by Ira 
Spaulding, and was there about two years, 
when he moved onto the farm now, owned 
by Mary Turner, remaining there nearly 
two years. John and his sons, William and 
John, Jr., then purchased of Eli Arnold 
eighty acres of land, the farm on which the 
father died and where the sons, William and 
John, yet live, each holding a one-third in- 
terest. This land was purchased in 1873. 
.\bout 1877 they moved onto his land, 
which was then all in the woods and had no 
improvements in the way of buildings ex- 
cept a log cabin. They purchased another 
forty acres of Tommie Arnold and William 
also later purchased an additional forty 
acres. Since the father's death the sons 
have owned the old home place-, with forty 
acres adjoining. 

The death of John Booher occurred 
August 12. 1900, and that of Joanna, his 
second wife, September 29, of the same 



year. To the second marriage of the sub- 
ject six children were born: Lisander, now 
a resident of section 22, married Catherine 
Jones, a daughter of Oliver Jones, and they 
have four children living, Oliver E., John 
L., James H. and an infant son; George, 
now residing on the old Page and Faust 
farm, married Ida Jones, and they have three 
sons, Carl, Charles W. and Carey S. ; An- 
nie married W. H. Jones, lives on the Riggs 
place and has one son, Oscar ; Eli makes his 
home with William and John on the old 
home place. 

William and John Booher, who jointly 
own and farm the old home place, are gen- 
eral stock farmers as well. They prefer as 
breeds of stock Poland China hogs and 
shorthorn cattle. Their farm is in oil ter- 
ritory, and has on it eleven productive wells 
which yield a profit of from seventy-five 
to one hundred and thirty dollars per 
month. They, however, devote their time 
to farming and farm interests. 

In politics the sons are all Republicans, 
as was their father before them. They be- 
lieve, however, in the principle, as did he, 
of according the largest liberty in matters 
of opinion, and allow others to vote as they 
please, not assuming to question the mo- 
tives of others, and only asking for them- 
selves, in all matters pertaining to duty as 
citizens, the same libert}^ of thought and 
action. 

John Booher is a type of the thousands 
who, seeing no chance in the older com- 
munities of the states in which they were 
born, grew to manhood and were married, 
to provide for a growing family and finally 
attain that possession dear to every ambitious 
American husbandman, a home and farm of 
his own, pressed on further west to a newer 



268 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'^NA. 



state and cheaper lands. Here while rent- 
ing and farming, and helping to clear the 
land owned by others, he, in common with 
so many of his contemporaries, succeeded 
by economy and the labor of himself and 
family in purchasing unimproved land and. 
while fulfilling all his duties as an honored 
citizen and neighbor, wrested from the un- 
broken forest a homestead whereon his sons 
may worthily emulate and follow his ex- 
ample. The early progenitors of the Booher 
boys of Wells county came from the father- 
land, Germany, and the brothers are pos- 
sessed of that economical, thrifty spirit 
which characterizes German farmers. 



JOHN WILLL\MS. 



Among the enterprising agriculturists of 
\\'ells county the subject of this review has 
long held worthy prestige. His finely 
cultivated farm and the evidence of pros- 
perity which every foot of his land presents 
attest his efficiency as a master of his voca- 
tion, while the universal esteem in wdiich he 
is held is evidence of his great personal 
popularity with the people of his township. 
Paternally Mr. Williams is descended from 
an old Virginia family and on the mother's 
side traces his lineage to the state of New 
Jersey. His grandparents. \\'illiam and 
Elizabeth Williams, were born and reared 
in the Old Dominion state, but a number of 
years after their marriage migrated to Ohio, 
settling near the present city of New Lan- 
caster. By occupation William Williams 
was a tiller of the soil and as such accumu- 
lated a comfortable fortune in the state of 
his adoption. Among his children was a 



son by the name of Thomas who \\^as a 
youth of eighteen when the family moved to 
Ohio. When a young man Thomas entered 
the marriage relation with Miss Mary Ann 
Taylor, of New Jersey, the daughter of 
Joseph and Beulah Taylor, who settled in 
the county of New Lancaster. Ohio, in an 
early day. After his marriage Mr. Williams 
located in Greene county, thence moved to 
the county of Montgomery, where he lived 
until 1856, when he disposed of his interests 
in Ohio and took up his residence in Wells 
county, Indiana, settling on the farm in 
Nottingham township now owned by 
]\Iarion France. Tlie country at that time 
was a wilderness and until he could erect 
a cabin of his own Mr. Williams and Owen 
Clevenger, whose family accompanied his 
own, lived on the same place and had things 
in common, \\nien a house was finally pre- 
pared, Mr. Williams moved to his own land, 
an eighty-acre tract, on which up to that 
time nothing in the way of improvement had 
been attempted. The neighbors were few 
and far between and the usual vicissitudes 
and privations of pioneer times were experi- 
enced before the farm was cleared and a 
comfortable era of living inaugurated. Mr. 
Williams succeeded in preparing two acres 
for cultivation the first year and later hired 
considerable of the timber removed until in 
due time the greater part of the place was in 
readiness for the plow. Within a short time 
Mr. Williams left his original purchase and 
mo\-ed on what is now known as the White- 
man place, where he lived for a period of 
eleven years, making many substantial im- 
provements the meanwhile. He invested his 
means in one hundred and twenty acres ad- 
joining the old place on the north, and from 
time to time purchased other tracts until he 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



269 



finally became the owner of real estate to the 
amount of three hundred and forty acres, 
nearly all of which was reduced to tillage. 
After living for a number of years on the 
Whiteman faim, he returned to his old home 
place and spent the remainder of his life 
there, dying on the 15th day of July, 1898. 
Airs. Williams entered into rest before her 
husband, departing this life in the year 
1882. Six children were born to Thomas 
and Mary A. Williams, three of whom are 
living, namely : John, whose name intro- 
duces this review ; James and Edward. The 
deceased are Eliza, Thomas and Joseph. 

Thomas \Villiams was a man of excel- 
lent character and e\er)- enterprise to which 
he addressed himself appeared to prosper. 
He was successful in the accumulation of 
property and as a farmer ranked with the 
most enterprising agriculturalists in the 
county of Wells. At different times ne de- 
voted much attention to the live stock busi- 
ness, buying and shipping cattle and horses, 
also raising these and other domestic ani- 
mals, in which his success was most en- 
couraging. As a neighbor and citizen no 
man in the community was more univer- 
sally respected and in every relation of life 
his character and conduct were always above 
the shadow of anything dishonorable. 

John Williams, the immediate subject of 
this sketch, was born October 13. 1847, in 
Montgomery county, Ohio, and when a lad 
of nine years was brought by his parents 
to the new home in Wells county, Indiana. 
His youthful experience on the farm was 
such as to develop not only a strong phy- 
sique, but also to foster a spirit of indepen- 
dence, which enabled him while still a mere 
lad to lay plans for the future and to labor 
zealously for the accomplishment of the 



same. His naturally quick mind and keen 
powers of perception were strengthened by 
study in the common schools, which he at- 
tended at intervals during his minority, and 
on reaching the age of twenty-one he' en- 
gaged in the pursuit of agriculture, renting 
land of farmers living in the neighborhood. 
He continued to live at home until his mar- 
riage, which was solemnized on the 20th 
of February, 1870, with Miss Viretta Ewell, 
of Henry county, Indiana, and for one year 
thereafter he cultivated a farm in Notting- 
ham township belonging to a gentleman 
by the name of Frederick Guysell. At the 
expiration of that time he built a small log 
house on the farm which he now owns and 
moving into the same addressed himself 
manfully to the task of clearing his land and 
laying the foundation of the comfortable 
fortune which has since come into his pos- 
session. But little work had been done on 
his place before Mr. Williams purchased it 
and to remove the timber and reduce the 
soil to tillage required an amount of labor 
which taxed his energy and endurance to 
the utmost limit. He succeeded, however, 
in transforming the place into one of the 
most valuable and attractive homes in the 
township and by the exercise of sound judg- 
ment and shrewd business tact gradually ac- 
cumulated a sufficiency of this world's 
goods to place him in independent circum- 
stances for the remainder of his life. He 
has made agriculture a study and appreciat- 
ing the economy of time and the value of 
little things has so managed his affairs as to 
reap the greatest possible results from his 
labors. Living in the midst of the oil dis- 
trict he has encouraged the development of 
this great industry by every means within 
his power and at the present time has four 



270 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



producing wells, which yield him handsome 
returns. He has not been unmindful of the 
value of good live stock as a source of in- 
come and like the majority of enterprising 
agriculturists makes this one of the most 
important features of his farm. 

Mr. Williams has supported the Repub- 
lican party ever since attaining his majority, 
and while interested in its success he can 
hardly be called a politician in the sense in 
which the term is generally understood. In 
a broader sense, however, he is a politician in 
that he is deeply interested in good govern- 
ment and uses his influence to have the best 
men in his party nominated for office. Mr. 
WiUiams is not a church member himself, 
but believes in religion and contributes lib- 
erally to the local Christian church to which 
his wife and daughters belong. Interested 
in the material and industrial growth of his 
township and county, he encourages all en- 
terprises with those ends in view, and his 
position among the public spirited men of 
the community is recognized and appreciated 
by all. His career since beginning life for 
himself has been most satisfactory and his 
reputation as a kind and obliging neighbor 
and wide-awake, up-to-date citizen is sec- 
ond to that of none of his compeers. 

Mrs. Williams is the daughter of John 
and Matilda Ewell, natives of West Vir- 
ginia, and early settlers of Henry county, 
Indiana. She has borne her husband six 
children, five living, the oldest of whom is 
Thomas, one of the county's most efficient 
and popular educators. After completing 
the common school course, he entered the 
state normal at Terre Haute and later be- 
came principal of the graded schools of Not- 
tingham township. After filling this posi- 
tion one year, he took charge of the schools 



at Creggsville for the same length of time, 
then accepted the principalship of the Wash- 
ington Park school, Bluffton, his present 
field of labor. He married Miss Libbie 
Hines and is the father of two children, 
Hubert and Lavern; John, the second son, 
was graduated from the common schools of 
Nottingham township, married Miss Mary 
Miller, and at the present time is a resident 
of Marion, this state. The other members 
of the family are Minnie, Zonetta and 
Charley, all three still under the parental 
roof. 



JOHN S. SHEPHERD. 

This public-spirited and highly respected 
resident of Nottingham township. Wells 
county, Indiana, was born in Darke county, 
Ohio, October 15, 1847, a son of John S. 
and Susan (Hartpence) Shepherd. John 
E., a native of Pennsylvania, was a son of 
Dennis and Esther Shepherd, also of the 
Keystone state. He was taken to Butler 
county, Ohio, when a small boy, and subse- 
quently to Darke county, in the same state, 
and in these two counties he reached man- 
hood's years. In the latter county John S. 
married Miss Hartpence, a native of New- 
Jersey, the ceremony taking place at Ithaca, 
where he at once engaged in the mercantile 
business and followed it until 1847, when 
he was elected county recorder and removed 
to Greenville. He was re-elected to suc- 
ceed himself, and remained in the city until 
the spring of 1870, when he went to Adams 
county, Indiana, and settled on the farm now 
occupied by his youngest son, F. J. 

John S. Shepherd had traded a half lot 
in Ithaca for one hundred and sixtv acres 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



271 



of land in Adams countyj but before remov- 
ing thither purchased an additional tract of 
one hundred and eighty acres, making a to- 
tal of three hundred and forty, nearly all of 
which was under a good state of cultiva- 
tion prior to his death, which occurred at 
the home of his son, John S., July 18, 1893. 
His wife, Susan, had preceded him to the 
grave, dying November 10, 1882, leaving 
him nine children, viz : W. H. ; W. W.; de- 
ceased; Thomas M., who died in the army; 
Sarah E., who is married to Charles W. 
Hartsell; John S., the subject proper of this 
sketch: Andrew, who died in childhood; 
F. J. : Mary M., wife of Joseph French, and 
Anna S. 

John S. Shepherd attended the public 
schools of Greenville, Ohio, until twenty-one 
years of age, when he rented his father's 
farm, in 1870. April 16, 187 1, he married 
Miss Mary J. Weist, who was born in Pick- 
away county, Ohio, October 17, 1849, a 
daughter of Josiah and Catherine (Rose) 
Weist. Josiah Weist was born in Penn- 
fyh-ania, but located in Pickaway county, 
Ohio, in 1850, whence he came to Indiana 
and settled on land which had been entered 
by his father, Peter Weist, who had pre- 
ceded him. Catherine died on their home- 
stead, and Josiah then went to live with his 
youngest child, who is also named Josiah 
and who resides in Vera Cruz, Indiana. 

Josiah and Catherine (Rose) Weist had 
a family of nine children, who were named, 
in order of their birth, as follows : Mary, 
now Mrs. J. S. Shepherd; Sarah A.; John 
W., deceased; Lewis A., deceased; Sylves- 
ter M., deceased; Alice L., married to J. D. 
Kreps; George; Emma and Josiah. 

John S. Shepherd, for three years after 
marriage, continued to live on his father's 



farm, and then came to Nottingham town- 
ship, Wells county, Indiana, and located on 
the Amos Warren farm, where he lived for 
about two years. In the spring of 1877 he 
took charge of the poor or county farm, 
held the position for two years, then moved 
to Blufifton and conducted a photograph gal- 
lery for two years. In 1884 Mr. Shepherd 
settled on the farm he at present occupies, 
and which comprises ninety-four acres, 
which he had purchased in 1879, having, 
with the laudable aid of his wife, earned 
sufficient money to pay for the place. When 
Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd began housekeeping 
they had a cooking stove; they converted a 
store box into a cupboard, and the father of 
Mrs. Shepherd presented the young couple 
with four chairs and a table. Mrs. Shepherd 
had worked out to earn the means with 
which to buy a bed and some dishes, and Mr. 
Shepherd's mother gave them sixteen chick- 
ens. They also had a cow, and with the 
eggs and the milk which they sold, and what 
they consumed themselves, they managed to 
get along the first year without any great 
hardship, and at the close of the year had 
raised eighty chickens. The second year 
the eggs laid by the hens were disposed of 
for sixty-seven dollars and ten cents, Mrs. 
Shepherd also selling turkeys that netted her 
sixty-five dollars. When Mr. Shepherd set- 
tled upon his farm there were about thirty- 
five acres cleared, but now he has eighty 
acres from which the superfluous timber has 
been removed; he has also thoroughly 
ditched the place and has made all the im- 
provements, which are fully up-to-date. The 
farm now comprises one hundred and seven- 
ty-four acres, eignty of which are in Adams 
county. Mr. Shepherd is also the owner of 
eight producing oil wells, from which he has 



272 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



derived about one thousand dollars from the 
lessees as his half interest, while V. L. Reed, 
of Mount Zion, owns the other half. Re- 
centl}', Mr. Shepherd has converted his place 
into a pasture farm, on which he breeds Red 
Polled cattle and Shropshire and Oxford 
Down sheep. He also owns the old home 
farm in Greenville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. 
Shepherd are members of the Baptist church, 
and in politics Mr. Shepherd is a Democrat, 
and under the auspices of his party has 
served for two years as treasurer of Bluff- 
ton, and has twice made the race for the 
office of county treasurer. 



A. T. STUDABAKER. 

America is indel^ted to no one race or 
nationality for so many of the sterling- quali- 
ties which characterize Americans of today 
as much as it is to the German emigrants 
who came to this country during the early 
settlement of the colonies. Fev^f of them 
had much in the way of material wealth, but 
they were well supplied with industry and 
thrift, an ambition to better their condition 
and a steadfast firmness of purpose that noth- 
ing could overcome. Once believing them- 
selves to be right, no persuasion, argument 
or coercive force could divert them from the 
course they had determined upon. This 
national characteristic is often severely 
criticised, is frequently referred to as "pig- 
headedness," but there is little doubt that 
that trait of American character so notice- 
able and so highly commended as "sta- 
bility" comes from this very source. That 
which is denounced as "pig-headedness" in 
the early German settlef is commended as 



"firmness" and "stability" in his descend- 
ant of the third or fourth generation. 

The subject of this sketch, A. T. Studa- 
baker, of Harrison township, Wells county, 
Indiana, is one of those same descendants. 
If the name did not tell of it, or if he was 
not able to trace his genealogy to that source, 
the determination, firmness and steadfastness 
of purpose which he discloses in every walk 
of life would pronounce him, beyond all 
cavil, as of this same German descent. For 
}-ears he has been the only voter of his pre- 
cinct who at each successive election casts 
a Prohibition ticket. It is not in casting a 
Prohibition ticket that the German descent 
is disclosed in him; it is shown in the per- 
sistence with which he clings to his opin- 
ions, the tenacity with which he adheres to 
his views in the face of all opposition and in 
a cause that to others appears absolutely 
hopeless. He believes he is right, and he will 
stay right, even though the heavens fall. 

A. T. Studabaker is the son of William 
and Sarah ( Thompson) Studabaker and was 
born in Darke county. Ohio, July i8, 1830. 
His grandfather was Abraham Studabaker, 
a descendant of an old German family that 
came to America and settled in one of the 
colonies long before the Revolutionary war. 
He was a man of mature }'ears and recog- 
nized influence at the breaking out of the war 
of 18 1 2 and took an active part in the agita- 
tion that mnde it necessary for the strug- 
gling but dauntless colonies, for a second 
time, to grapple with their old oppressor. He 
was a sincere patriot and took an active part 
in public affairs during that interesting per- 
iod. William Studabaker was born in Warren 
county, Ohio, February 7, 1807. When he 
was One year of age his parents moved to 
Darke countv. Ohio, where Gettysburg now 




MRS A. T. STUDABAKER. 




A. T. STUDABAKER. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



273 



stands. At the time his parents located iii 
Darke county the county was very wild and 
Indians and beasts of the forest were plenty. 
There were two classes of Indians, hostile 
and friendly. William at this time was very 
weakly. Some of the friendly Indians, visit- 
ing his father, saw the condition of the then 
small boy, and, believing they could restore 
him to health, stole him away while his par- 
ents were in the clearing at work, he having 
been left in the care of a little girl, his 
cousin Nancy Miller, who afterwards be- 
came the wife of Orrin Perrin, and now 
lives near Murray, Wells county, Indiana. 
The little girl ran to the clearing to give 
the alarm to the parents and the father, on 
receiving the news, asked what kind of an 
Indian he was. The little girl gave a de- 
scription of the Indian, and the father re- 
marked, "He is a friendly Indian: he will 
bring him back." They continued coming 
and bringing him back almost every day for 
about a year. During this time William be- 
came very much attached to them, and when 
they would come and go away without him, 
he would cry after them, and up to the day 
of his death he would say nothing against 
the friendly Indians, but would remark that 
he believed the medical treatment he received 
from them was the means of prolonging 
his life. A few years later he moved with 
his parents to a farm near Greenville, Ohio, 
where he remained until he was twenty-one 
years of age. He was then married to 
Sarah A. Thompson, in the month of March, 
1828. After his marriage he located on a 
farm near Greenville, the one now known 
as the county farm. He lived on this farm 
eleven years, and in the year 1839 moved to 
Wells county, Indiana, locating on the farm 
now owned by Lewis Markley. He remained 



on this farm about six years, and then moved 
across the river on his farm where he re- 
mained up to the time of his death. He was 
a man of wonderful constitution, and with 
that constitution he made a success of all 
his undertakings in life. In moving to Wells 
county in an early day, he with his com- 
panion had to endure many hardships con- 
nected with a pioneer life. No roads exist- 
ed, only as they were "blazed"' out through 
the woods, the dwelling place of the Indians 
and wild beasts, no bridges as we now have, 
and when the settlers came to a s^^•o!len 
stream, they would plunge into it, sometimes 
the horses being compelled to swim and the 
water running into the wagon-bed. Mr. 
Studabaker cleared up the farm that Lewis 
Markley now lives on, also most of the farm 
on which he lived when he died. While 
clearing up his farm he was compelled to go 
to Greenville for a greater part of his pro- 
visions, and part of the time he went into 
Ohio to mill. His nearest milling point at 
the time was Huntington, Indiana, he some- 
times going to mill on horseback and some- 
times going down the Wabash in a canoe. 
A few years later a mill was built at Bluffton, 
and one time Mr. Studabaker. in company 
with John Markley, went to mill at the latter 
place in a canoe, at which time he came near 
being drowned. After their grinding was 
done they started home, and in coming out 
of the mill-race by some mishap they were 
drawn out into the swift current of the river 
and in spite of their utmost efiforts were car- 
ried over the dam. In going over Markley 
leaped out, caught to the edge of the dam 
and saved himself. ]\Ir. Studabaker went 
over with the canoe and was taken under the 
water by the suck of the dam. But being a 
good swinTmer, and having presence of 



274 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



mind, after making several efforts to swim, 
but being beaten back by the force of the 
current, lie dived to the bottom, swam down 
the river a few rods, came to the surface 
and started for the shore, being rescued by 
Benjamin Nutter. 

Air. Studabaker accumulated property 
quite rapidly, at one time owning upwards 
of two thousand acres in the upper valley of 
the Wabash. He was a man of much public 
spirit and always took a leading part in all 
public improvements. Sincere in all his 
convictions, he was a man of rare Christian 
character, a consistent member of the Chris- 
tian church, in the full faith and fellowship 
of which he died in 1881. He and his wife 
were the parents of ten children, Mariah, A. 
T., Mary A., Ben, John, David, William 
T., Louisa and J. M., who were twins, and 
George W. 

As soon as A. T. Studabaker had ma- 
tured sufficiently to be of use on his father's 
farm he was constantly employed in the 
labor thereof. During the winter months 
when little could be done outside of caring 
for the stock, he attended the district school 
and laid the foundation for a good education. 
Later he took a course in the schools of 
Bluffton, then turned his attention to teach- 
ing. He was in the educational work three 
terms in Wells county. He remained on 
the farm with his father, assisting in caring 
for the family, until he was twent^'-three 
3'ears of age. 

On the 6th day of March, 1853, A. T. 
Studabaker Avas united in marriage to Miss 
Louisa DeWitte, a lady of good education 
and fine attainments. Her family came west 
from New York in 1839 and settled on the 
old Adam Hall place. Her father was a man 
of energy and industry, who in his time had 



done much hard work. At his marriage, A. T. 
Studabaker, the subject hereof, was worth 
a few hundred dollars. With this he erected 
a comfortable home on his present farm, in 
June, 1853. It was then in the midst of the 
woods. It took time, labor and money to 
carve a productive farm out of the primeval 
forest, but each was expended ungrudgingly 
by the owner, with the result that at this 
time no more comfortable home or desir- 
able farm may be found for miles around. 
He is the owner of two hundred and eight 
acres of the productive bottom lands of that 
region. Like his father and grandfather 
before him, he has engaged in the raising, 
purchase and sale of live stock. Early in life 
he was schooled in the art of estimating the 
weight and value of animals at a glance. In 
this line his knowledge is such and his ex- 
perience so valued that his judgment is al- 
most infallible on these points. He is ac- 
corded the credit of having bought more 
stock than any other man in Wells county, 
and of course such purchases were profitable. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Studabaker have been 
born eleven children, nine of whom are still 
living. Harriette is the wife of Marion 
French; Lewis and Henry both died in in- 
fancy; William L. is married and lives at 
Elwood ; Mary J. is the wife of Joseph Car- 
ter, a resident of Grant county; Noah is en- 
gaged in the purchase of grain at Van 
Buren ; Abby and Ida are twins, the former 
of whom is the wife of W. A. Bowman, the 
latter the wife of Charles Helms; John is 
married, the father of a family and lives in 
Harrison township; Lillie is the wife of L. 
L. Baumgartner and Minnie M. is the wife 
of Ed. Huffman, who lives on the old home 
place with Mrs. Huffman's parents. 

In politics Mr. Studabaker was at one 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



275 



time a Democrat, but espoused the cause of 
Greenbackism when that poHtical doctrine 
first began to command pubHc attention. 
Since then he has become a most profound 
Prohibitionist. Single-handed and alone 
he has fought for years the battles of the 
Prohibition party in Harrison township. 
At each successive election the ballots of the 
township are counted and one solitary Prohi- 
bition ticket is always found in the box. 
Everybody knows that it was voted by A. 
T. Studabaker. It never increases, it never 
diminishes, but it is always there. The other 
voters of the township look for it as con- 
fidently at the next election as they do that 
that event will come around. He has been 
honored by his party with the nomination 
for representative from \Vells county, has 
also been placed upon the ticket as a candi- 
date for treasurer of the county and when 
placed on the county ticket has shown him- 
self better than his party by the larger vote 
which he received. When gravel roads were 
being built in Indiana he became a contrac- 
tor and built some twenty miles in Wells 
county and several in Grant county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Studabaker are both church mem- 
bers and have been since 1858, for years at- 
tending what is known as the Six-mile 
Christian church. 

Few men in \\'ells county are better 
known than Air. Studabaker. His business 
is such as to bring him in contact with a 
large number of people all over the county. 
For a man so set in his purposes, firm in his 
convictions, extreme in his likes and dis- 
likes, he is a man with many warm friends. 
He is honest, truthful and manly, qualities, 
always admired by people whose good 
opinion is worth having. As a neighbor he 
is generous, as a citizen he is public spirited. 



as a father he is indulgent, and as a husband 
he is loyal and true. While his neighbors 
indulge in some amusement, at his expense, 
in so tenaciously adhering to Prohibition 
principles, all accord him the credit of sin- 
cerity. They may question his judgment — 
his course shows that he has the courage of 
his convictions. 



CHARLES E. DYSON. 

There are few men, no matter how many 
their millions may be, who have not a very 
distinct recollection of the first one hundred 
dollars they ever earned and saved. While 
the making of it may have been accompanied 
by many unpleasant feelings of weariness, 
exposure and sufferings of various kinds, 
the consciousness of being in possession of 
that first little "dot" of wealth is replete 
with pleasant memories. The subject of this 
sketch, Charles E. Dyson, has many rea- 
sons to well remember the first two hundred 
dollars he made and saved. It was dug out 
of the earth, perhaps hundreds of feet below 
the surface, "down in the coal mines." It 
represented the savings of three years of the 
most unremitting toil. 

Charles E. Dyson, of Nottingham town- 
ship. Wells county, was born December 13, 
1862, in Hocking county, Ohio. His par- 
ents were George and Melissa (Milton) 
Dyson, a sketch of whose lives will be found 
in another part of this volume under the 
heading George Dyson. In Hocking county 
the youth of Charles E. Dyson was spent. 
He had little opportunity of acquiring an 
education, but improved such opportunity as 
came his way, attending the public schools 



276 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



during the winter montlis until he was sev- 
enteen. From his earhest years he was 
brought up to know and appreciate the value 
and necessity of industry. He quickly 
learned that every dollar that came into his 
possession represented as much muscular 
exertion, so much sweat and labor, and he 
was not long in understanding the need of 
saving his money when he got it. These 
were lessons of as much value, perhaps more 
than those he might have learned in the 
school room. 

About the time that Mr. Dyson attained 
his majority his parents moved to Wells 
county, Indiana, locating in Nottingham 
township. When he was only twenty years 
of age the subject entered the mines 
as a miner, having previously been in 
the mines of Hocking county, Ohio, and 
dug coal for a period of three years. The 
first two hundred dollars he ever possessed 
he saved out of these three years" earnings. 
With this amount in his pocket he came to 
W'ells count}-, rented ground and began 
farming. The first favorable opportunity 
that offered he in\-ested his two hundred dol- 
lars in an eighty-acre tract of land, going 
in delit for the remainder of the purchase 
price. The tract was partly woods and part- 
ly swamp. He knew the hard work that was 
necessary to convert it into a farm, but it 
was hard work that he was accustomed to 
and in this hard work he would be blessed 
with God's sunshine and plenty nf pure air 
to breathe. It liad this much the advantage 
of his work in the mines. He dug ditches, 
built fences and chopped down trees upon 
this place until he has now clear and under 
cultivation sixty-five acres. He has erected 
comfortable Init not expensive buildings 
upon the place and otherwise improved it. It 



is by no means a model farm, but it is a 
well-cultivated, productive and valuable one. 
December 17, 1894, Charles E. Dyson was 
united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Neher, a 
native of Wells county, born August 8, 
1878. (For a sketch of the life of her par- 
ents the reader is respectfully referred to 
another part of this volume under the head- 
ing Samuel Neher.) With that prudence 
which characterized him from youth, Mr. 
Dyson had his home on his own farm pre- 
pared for the reception of his young wife. 
This was their home until March, 1902, 
when, at the solicitation of Mrs. Dyson's 
father, they moved onto his place and have 
taken charge of the work thereon. 

In April, 1900, Charles E. Dyson and 
Samuel I. Neher entered into a partnership 
in the business of drilling oil wells. The 
latter had had about six months' experience 
in manipulating a drilling machine before 
they undertook the work. They invested in 
a string of tools and have been actively en- 
gaged in the business of drilling oil wells 
ever since. A year later they took in as equal 
partners J. P. Lockwood and W. B. Kirk- 
wood and purchased another string of tools. 
Meanwhile they decided to do some leasing 
of oil property on their own behalf. They 
secured leases on the farms of the following 
persons : Henry Johns, Katherine Kimble, 
C. E. Dyson and Cynthia Bowers, making 
in all two hundred and forty-nine acres. 
After they had drilled four wells and were 
completing the fifth they sold out to Almy 
A. Thomas, of New York, for sixteen thous- 
and dollars. It was a spot cash deal. Since 
then they have been working for the pur- 
chasers, drilling wells on the property the 
lease to which they sold. 

Charles E. Dyson is the owner of a well- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



277 



improved farm of eighty acres, to which, 
however, he devotes little attention, his well- 
drilling operations occupying most of his 
attention. He rents the place to different 
parties by fields. Nevertheless he breeds and 
feeds considerable stock, giving the prefer- 
ence to Polled Angus cattle and a general 
class of hogs. He is the owner of not less 
than five thousand dollars' worth of personal 
Jin ijjerty and his entire estate would foot up 
several times that much. Beginning with 
nothing but the labor of his hands, muscles 
with which to toil and a mind with which to 
])lan. within a period of less than twenty 
years he has accomplished all this; it is 
needless to say that it took no common or or- 
dinary- man to do it. He has applied well 
the gifts which nature has given him and 
.supplemented them with many acquired \-ir- 
tues. 

In politics Mr. Dyson has always been a 
Democrat, passive and moderate general!}', 
but somewhat aggressive and insistent dur- 
ing the heat of political campaigns. He seeks 
no political preferment for himself but. 
with his customary unselfishness, is ever on 
the lookout for the welfare of his friends 
who take more kindly to politics than he 
does. He and his good wife are the parents 
of three intelligent, healthy children, viz : 
Iva L.. \'irgil V. and Ethel R.. constituting 
a most happy and agreeable family. Mr. 
Dyson is certainly most fortunate in his 
domestic relations. Li this as in most other 
instances fate has smiled kindly upon him. 
However, fate generally smiles upon the 
wnrtb.y and no one who knows him doubts 
that Mr. Charles E. Dyson is deserving of 
all the good luck that has come his wav. In 
all respects he deserves the confidence rejwsed 
in him bv his fellow citizens. 



HENRY E. JOHNS. 

Youth and inexperience rarely count the 
cost. If they did there would be far more 
sour-visaged old maids and ill natured, pet- 
ulant old bachelors than there are. Perhaps 
it is a wise provision of nature that youth 
is so unreasonably impulsive in matters mat- 
rimonial. Cupid's darts have little more ef- 
fect than pin pricks on persons of mature 
years. It is the youth of both sexes who 
rush into marital ties where even angels, 
without stomachs to fill or raiment to wear, 
might fear the tightening of the noose. A 
Chicago judge some time ago decided that 
twenty-five dollars was sufficient capital for 
a young couple to begin matrimonial life on. 
Some have begun on hundreds of thousands 
more and found neither contentment nor 
happiness. The subject of this sketch, 
Henry E. Johns, had a comfortable start in 
life when he united his destiny with Miss 
Clara King. He Avas the owner of a team 
of horses and one hundred dollars. Miss 
Clara was even better provided to keep the 
wolf from the famil}- door, she being the 
owner of eight hundred dollars. Mone}' is 
not always essential to happiness in affairs 
of the heart, but there is a great deal of un- 
happiness in this life for the want of it. 

Henry E. Johns was born July 5. 1870. 
in Harrison township. Wells county. Indi- 
ana. He was a son of John S. Johns, a 
native of Ohio, the latter being the son of 
Fleming and Rebecca Johns, natives of Vir- 
ginia. Fleming Johns and his wife moved 
to Ohio, where they resided a number of 
years and where their son. John S.. was 
born. When the latter was a small child his 
parents moved to Harrison township, \^^ells 
county, where John S. grew to manhood. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



He was twice married. His first wife was 
Trissa Hatighton and to that union nine 
children were born, five of whom are still 
living. Trissa, the mother, died in 1882 and 
John S. emigrated soon after to Arkansas. 
At the time he was the owner of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land in Wells coun- 
ty. The following are the children : Le- 
nora; Alonzo; Josephine, deceased; Roswell 
married Emma Shoemaker, a resident of 
Nottingham township; Henry E., the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who will be more partic- 
ularly referred to hereafter; Mary, de- 
ceased ; Cora ; Ellen, deceased ; Mason, de- 
ceased. To the second marriage of John S. 
Johns only one child was born, a little daugh- 
ter, Trissa. 

In the public schools of Wells and Adams 
counties Henry E. Johns received his educa- 
tion. He was nineteen years of age when 
he attended his last term of the public school. 
Two years previous to that, however, he had 
been working by the month when school was 
not in session. He was in the employ of dif- 
ferent persons for a number of years, among 
them, Peter Weastbrood, Peter Beler and 
Andrew Lynn. He worked by the day, 
month or job, upon the farm, as best suited 
his employer. He was in the employ of one 
man four years in succession. In this 
way he employed his time, steadily accumu- 
lating a little money, until he was twenty- 
four years of age. at which time he got mar- 
ried. At that time he had his team and one 
hundred dollars and the provident little wo- 
man he took for his wife, Miss Clara King. 
was th.e owner of eight hundred dollars. 
They were married September 17, 1893, she 
being then in her twentieth year. She was 
born April 8, 1874, in Nottingham township. 

The parents of Clara (King) Johns were 



Adam and Elizabeth King, both early set- 
tlers of Wells county. In 1889 Adam passed 
to his eternal rest, but his wife is still living, 
a resident of Petroleum. To them twelve 
children were born, eight of whom are liv- 
ing, viz : ]\Iiner\a married Sylvanius Shep- 
herd; Sarah married Henry Kirkwood; 
George married Julia Gale; Etta married 
Milton Dean ; Frank married Lizzie Ships ; 
Adam married Louisa Blair; Almira is the 
Avife of Joseph Elson; Clara is the wife of 
Henry E. Johns, the subject of this sketch. 

The young couple began housekeeping 
on the C. W. Shoemaker farm, where they 
remained four }-ears. In the meantime, an 
opportunity offering. Mr. Johns purchased 
sixty-one acres of land in Nottingham town- 
ship, which now constitutes the family home. 
For this he paid sixteen hundred and thirty 
dollars, of which amount he incurred an in- 
debtedness of five hundred dollars. This 
place he has since fenced, ditched and cul- 
tivated and it is upon it the family now make 
their home. It has five producing oil wells, 
the royalty from which amounts to about 
one hundred and fifty dollars per month, 
and there are four more locations on the 
place. He has two teams working in the oil 
field, but it is to his farm that his chief at- 
tention is devoted. It is his purpose to add 
to the size of his farm as opportunity offers, 
he feeling that he needs more room for the 
raising of crops and the feeding of stock. 
His personal property will very easily foot 
up two thousand dollars. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Johns two 
children have been born, viz : Raymond, 
born March 3, 1895; Freddie, born April 2, 
1898. Mrs. Johns is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church at Reiffsburg. is in- 
terested in church work and contributes lib- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



279 



erally to the cause of religion and charity. 
While pretending to no political ability, 
power or influence, Mr. Johns is always 
sufficiently interested in the success of his 
party to take a hand in the campaign and 
do a little essential work on election day. 
He is a Democrat, earnest and sincere, but 
he has never sought or solicited any politi- 
cal preferment whatever. All he does is for 
what he believes to be the best interests of 
the country and the community in which he 
lives. He is most happy in domestic rela- 
tions, deriving his chief joy from the so- 
cietv of his family. 



JOHN LEE. 



This well known educator and farmer 
of Jackson township. Wells county, Indi- 
ana, was born here May 18, 1852, a son of 
Jonathan R. and Susannah (Banter) Lee. 
Jonathan R. Lee was born in Ohio in 1822 
and was a son of William Lee, a native of 
\"irginia and one of Ohio's early pioneers. 
Susannah Banter was a native of Virginia 
and was born in 1820, a daughter of Abra- 
ham and Elizabeth (Bates) Banter, who 
settled in Indiana in the pioneer days. Jon- 
athan R. Lee also came to Indiana with his 
parents and here Susannah Banter was in 
the employ of William Lee, father of Jona- 
than R. Thus it came about that her many 
domestic virtues attracted the attention of 
Jonathan R. and led to their marriage. 
They went to housekeeping and farming in 
Delaware county, later came to Wells 
county and for a short time lived on what is 
known now as the William Perdue farm, 
from which they moved to the farm on which 



Susannah died and on which Jonathan yet 
lives, at the age of eighty years, his daugh- 
ter, Margaret Elkins, keeping house for 
him. 

To Jonathan R. and Susannah (Ban- 
ter) Lee were born eight children, namely: 
William, a resident of Jackson township; 
Elizabeth, wife of S. H. Palmer, also of 
Jackson township; Mrs. Margaret Elkin, 
now a widow; Mrs. Lucy J. Capper, who 
resides in White county, Indiana; John, of 
whom more will be mentioned ; George W., 
a resident of Dillman, Wells county; Sarah 
A., wife of Dr. Morris, of Mount Zion, and 
Mary C, married to George M. McFar- 
land and residing one-half mile west of 
Dillman. 

John Lee, of this biography, attended 
district school No. 9, of Jackson township. 
Wells county, where he received an excel- 
lent preparatory education, and then, when 
about twenty-one years of age, attended the 
graded school at Montpelier, Blackford 
county, Indiana, one term; he then returned 
to Wells county and attended for one term 
the graded school at Bluffton, after which 
he taught a while and then, for two terms, 
attended the normal school in the same 
town, S. S. Roth and A. E. Helm being his 
instructors. After graduating from this 
institution he taught several terms during 
the winter seasons and continued his farm 
work during the summers. 

Although Mr. Lee had worked for his 
father for his board and clothes until he was 
probably twenty-fi\-e years of age. he had 
saved about five hundred dollars from his 
earnings and had secured a good team by 
the time he had decided to marry. This 
ceremony took place April 6, 1878, to Miss 
Montrie C. Kilander, who was born De- 



280 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



cember ig, 1857, and is a daughter of Perry 
and Sarah J. Kilander, of whom a bio- 
graphical sketcli will be found elsewhere 
in this volume. After his marriage, Mr. 
Lee and wife lived for two years on the 
farm at present occupied by William Lee, a 
brother, on which farm John Lee did con- 
siderable clearing. At the end of the year 
he moved to the farm on which he now lives 
and which comprised fifty acres, deep in the 
forest. This land he cleared up and added to 
until he owned seventy-five acres in one 
body, all of which is now cleared, is finely 
improved and under a high state of culti- 
vation. Mr. Lee has kept adding to his 
possessions until he now owns two hundred 
and fifty-five acres in various parts of Jack- 
son township, all of which land he has 
earned by his own personal exertions and 
commendable industry and good manage- 
ment. 'Besides his land, Mr. Lee owns six 
flowing oil wells, from which he realizes 
about fifty dollars per month, the assess- 
ment on his personal property being about 
four thousand dollars. Beside conducting 
general farming, Mr. Lee pays considerable 
attention to live stock. He breeds short- 
horn and Jersey cattle, Poland China and 
Duroc hogs and formerly raised large num- 
bers of sheep. 

To Mr. and Mrs. John Lee have been 
born two children, namely : Charles M., Feb- 
ruai-y 20, 1879, ^"d Perry A., September 
16, 1883. Charles M. was educated in the 
district school and at the Marion normal 
school and is now assisting his father on 
the farm, and Perry A. is also at home. 
Charles M. receives one-quarter of the 
grain raised on the farm in compensation 
for his services and Perry A. is furnished 
with a horse and buggy to use at his own 



pleasure and will be supplied with his cloth- 
ing until he shall have attained his twenty- 
first year. 

In politics Mr. Lee was reared a Demo- 
crat, has never been over active in party mat- 
ters and votes for the man he deems best 
Suited for office. 



REV. PETER VITZ. 



Among the men who have indelibly 
stamped the impress of their personality 
•upon the communities with which they have 
been connected is the gentleman whose name 
appears above. Deeply impressed with the 
responsibilities incumbent upon one of his 
calling, he has at all times and under all cir- 
cumstances endeavored to perform life's du- 
ties so as to do the greatest good to the 
greatest number. That his life has been im- 
measurably beneficial to the world is the con- 
sensus of opinion among those at all con- 
versant with his life career and a volume of 
this character would be incomplete were 
there failure to make mention of him. 

Rev. Peter Vitz is the son of Fred Vitz, 
and is a native of Germany, his birth having 
occurred October 6, 1825. His ancestry is 
traced back to the French Huguenots who, 
because of religious persecution, were forced 
to leave France and took up their homes in 
Germany. At an early age Peter Vitz was 
left an orphan and was thus deprived of the 
tender and solicitous care of parents. He 
earl-y entered upon life's active duties, his 
first employment being as a worker or ap- 
prentice in silk mills. He was at the same 
time given an opportunity to attend school 
and, being of a studious disposition, was en- 




MRS. PETER VITZ. 




REV. PETER VITZ. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



281 



abled to gain a fair education. He con- 
tinued his wori-; in the silk miUs and by 
closely studying his work and b}- his in- 
defatigable industry was at length enabled 
to command good wages. According to the 
custom of his country, he entered the mili- 
tary service of Prussia and served for five 
years, receiving but scant pay. He had long 
been convinced that in America lay larger 
opportunities and wider possibilities for a 
man of energy and ambition and determined 
as soon as possible to make the change. He 
was of a deeply religious nature and paid 
close attention to his church and her re- 
quirements, and the fact was forcibly im- 
pressed upon him that his German breth- 
ren in the United States needed spiritual 
help and guidance. In July, 1853, he em- 
barked for America with the definite inten- 
tion of engaging in missionary work among 
the German population and went im- 
mediately to Wisconsin for :ha: purpose. 
Wishing to become better equippea lor ine 
work, and learning of a college at Tififin, 
Ohio, he entered that institution m 1853 
and pursued a two-years theological course, 
after which he was again sent into the field. 
He came at first to Adams county, Indiana, 
where he organized a congregation and 
erected a church near where the town of 
Magley now is. Under his ministry the 
society continued to grow until it is now one 
of the best country churches in Adams 
county. Later he organized a church near 
Honduras and remained in charge there for 
several years, a large number of communi- 
cants being added to the church through his 
influence.. From this charge he went to 
Huntington, Indiana, where a church had 
laeen started, but which was in a weak and 
somewhat demoralized condition. When 



he entered upon his work at that point there 
were but ten members, but as a result of his 
energetic and persistent efforts, at the close 
of his ministry a few years later the society 
numbered three hundred members and a 
neat and substantial brick edifice had been 
erected. He was next called to take charge 
of a congregation at Lafayette, Indiana, also 
in an unsatisfactory condition, and. as else- 
where, his work here was accompanied by 
most remarkable and gratifying results. He 
ministered to the society there about eight 
3'ears and succeeded in building the member- 
ship up to about three hundred. The church 
was at that time a strong, active and ag- 
gressive body of Christians and the influence 
of his work there will remain always as a 
blessed benediction upon that church, as 
upon all other churches over which he min- 
istered. Upon leaving Lafayette the sub- 
ject located at Vera Cruz, Wells county, 
where for over six years he was in charge of 
a congregation and then he returned to a 
farm which he had purchased in Huntington 
county, this state. But one of his tempera- 
ment and deep interest in the cause in which 
he had so long labored could iKit remain in- 
active and he soon went to Wisconsin and 
for three years served a church tliere in a 
pastoral capacity. He returned again to his 
Huntington county farm, but again was 
called into the work and for eleven years 
served as pastor over a church in Delphos. 
Ohio, at the end of that time coming to Vera 
Cruz, ^^'ells county, where he has since re- 
sided. 

Peter Vitz was united in marriage in 
Germany to Miss Catherine Jorris, and to 
this marriage there was born one son, 
Fredrich, now a resident of Huntington 
county, this state. Mrs. Vitz died in Wis- 



282 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



consin, and subsequently Mr. Vitz chose for 
his second wife Miss Mary A. Jacob, of 
Toledo. Ohio. This union was blessed by 
the birth of nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, namely : Martin received a good 
common school education and afterward 
graduated from a theological school at 
Tiffin, Ohio, and one in Wisconsin, and is 
now the successful pastor of a church in 
Cleveland, Ohio : Otto supplemented his 
earlier education by graduating from the 
theological seminary near Sheboygan, Wis- 
consin, and is now pastor of a church at 
Louisville, Kentucky; Henry graduated 
from the same seminary and has charge of a 
church at Indianapolis, Indiana; Albert is a 
farrher and resides in Huntington county, 
this state; Martha is the wife of Rev. P. S. 
Kohler, of St. Mary's, Ohio; Emma is the 
wife of Rev. H. B. Robrock, of Sandusky, 
Ohio; Anna L. is the wife of E. Eberhardt. 
proprietor of a laundry at Indianapolis ; Na- 
thaniel is a student in the theological school 
at Tiffin, Ohio; O. P. is a graduate of the 
Sheboygan Seminary, Wisconsin, in the class 
of 1897 and the same year received a call 
to the charge at Vera Cruz, of which he is 
still the pastor. He married Miss Barbara 
Emmer, of Crestline, Ohio, and they have 
two children, Edwin D., born May 29, 1899, 
and Anna M., born July 26, 1902. In his 
political relations Mr. Vitz is allied with the 
Democratic party, believing the principles 
announced in the platform of that party to 
be those most conducive to the welfare of the 
people of this country. Father and son 
alike have closely endeared themselves to the 
people of this county, who value them be- 
cause of the eminent services they have per- 
formed in the interest of humanity. They 
are generous and manly men and their un- 



tiring labors in the cause of Christianity 
have endeared them to their many acquaint- 
ances and aroused in all with whom they 
come in contact an admiration seldom en- 
joyed by preacher or layman. Broad-mind- 
ed, charitable and devout, they well deserve 
the high regard in which they are held and 
the good they have accomplished in the name 
of God and humanity is incalculable by any 
human standard. 



THADDEUS S. HURST. 

A gallant ex-soldier of the Civil war and 
now a prosperous farmer near Ruth, Wells 
county, Indiana, Thaddeus S. Hurst was 
born January 26, 1845, in Stark county, 
Ohio, a son of Samuel Hurst, who was born 
in Pennsylvania October 2, 1822, a son of 
George and Naomi, the former of whom 
was a native of Ireland and the latter of the 
Keystone state. From Ireland, George 
Hurst came to America and with his family 
settled in Stark county, Ohio, where Samuel 
grew to manhood and was reared to farming, 
and where George and his wife passed the re- 
mainder of life. 

Samuel Hurst was joined in marriage, 
in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1844, to 
Isabella S. Brackney, who was born Novem- 
ber 8, 1825, in Pennsylvania, and was a 
daughter of Samuel and Hannah Brackney, 
the former of whom was a native of New 
Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. He 
went back to Wells county and for some time 
was engaged in farming. In 1847 Samuel 
Hurst came to Wells county, Indiana, and lo- 
cated on forty acres of land where the Ruth 
postoffice now stands, but which was then 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



in a wilderness. His only neighbors at that 
time were Abram Stahl, to the northeast, 
Samuel \\'atts to the southeast, and Robert 
Smith to the west, and there he died in 
1S83 and his widow in 1884. To Samuel 
Hurst and his wife were born three chil- 
dren, viz : Thaddeus, whose name opens this 
biographical record; Albina. deceased wife 
of Henry Bower, and Mary, wife of 
\\'illiam Sark, who resides in Bluffton. 

Thaddeus S. Hurst was educated in the 
public schools of Xottingham township, 
which he attended until he was nineteen 
years of age. He then, fired by the glorious 
patriotism that inspired the breast of the 
American youth of that day, promptly re- 
sponded to the call to arms and enlisted in 
Company A. Fort}'-se\enth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, on the 20th of March, 1864, 
and took part in all the marches, skirmishes 
and battles in which his regiment was en- 
gaged until November, 1865. when he was 
honorably discharged. During his service 
he was present at the skirmish at Atchafal- 
aya Bayou. Louisiana, and was here struck 
in the left side by a piece of shell. It hit his 
rubber blanket and the belt of his cartridge 
box. While on the skirmish line at Alexan- 
dria, \'irginia, he was startled by a rebel 
minie ball which struck a brick, knocking the 
pieces into his face. He also accompanied 
General Banks on his famous Red river ex- 
pedition, and was later present at the siege 
of Mobile and the capture of Fort Blakeley 
and Spanish Fort. He was mustered out at 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was honor- 
ably discharged at Indianapolis. He has al- 
ways been an admirer of Indiana's great 
war governor, Morton. 

.\fter returning from his military service, 
during which he never shirked his dutv, but 



endured all the hardships of a soldier's life 
with fortitude and indomitable courage, ^Ir. 
Hurst worked out by the day in Wells coun- 
ty for about five years, or until 1870, when 
he went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where 
he engaged in the manufacture of queens- 
ware, and later continued at day work until 
1887. In the meantime Mr. Hurst married 
jVIiss Ida Lockw-ood, who was born June 7, 
i860, a daughter of George A. and Esther 
Ann (Schooley) Lockwood, and settled on 
the farm he now owns and occupies. Mr. 
Hurst has cleared up this farm of ten acres, 
has ditched it well, and drained it with over 
five hundred rods of tiling, and in addition 
to his farming operates three oil wells which 
produce about four tanks per month. 

The marriage of Thaddeus S. Hurst and 
Ida Lockw'ood has been crow"ned with four 
children, namely: Chloe, born April 26, 
1887 : Chester H., bom July 27, 1888 ; Hugh 
H., born July 27, 1891, and Hazel, born 
April I, 1896. 

Mrs. Hurst and her oldest daughter are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
in which they are active workers and to 
the maintenance of which they are liberal 
and willing contributors, and fraternally Mr. 
Hurst is a member of the Lew Dailey Post 
No. 33, G. A. R.. at Bluffton. In politics 
Mr. Hurst has always been, a Republican, 
and in April, 1890, was elected township 
trustee by a majority of fifty-one in a pre- 
cinct which had had no Republican trustee 
since 1866. Mr. Hurst has been chairman 
of his precinct for six years, has been a del- 
egate to various conventions of his party, 
and is a delegate at present to its judicial 
convention. Mr. Hurst is not only very pop- 
ular with his party, but he is a great favorite 
in the communit\- in which he lives and in 



284 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



which lie and his family enjoy the sincere 
respect of all who have the pleasin'e of their 
acquaintance. 

Thaddeus S. Hurst, it will lie perceived 
from the foregoing, has placed himself in his 
present position through his own unaided 
efiforts and indomitable industry, backed by 
a life of strict morality, and the time has 
never come when his word has 1)een doubted 
by friend or foe, but it is a pleasure to add 
that the latter are few and far between. 



JOHN H. REEVES. 

Chief among the breeders of fancy live 
stock in Wells county, Indiana, as well as 
among the thrifty farmers, stands John H. 
Reeves. He was born June 4, 1864, in 
Adams county, Indiana, and is a son of Den- 
nis and Nancy (Alberson) Reeves, natives 
of Randolph county, Indiana. 

Dennis Reeves was twice married, but 
about a year after his first marriage he was 
bereft of his wife, and he next married Nan- 
cy Alberson, in Adams county. This lady 
is a daughter of Joshua and Catherine 
(Deeter) Alberson, who were the parents of 
ten children, five of whom were mutes. Af- 
ter his second marriage Dennis Reeves came 
to Wells county (in 1865) and purchased the 
farm of eighty acres on which John H. 
Reeves now lives. Dennis lived here until 
about 1882, when he purchased forty acres 
in Adams county, and has virtually resided 
there ever since, although at present living in 
Bryan, Indiana, at the age of seventy-six 
years and partially blind. His wife is now 
sixty-five years old, and has borne her hus- 
band eight children, namely: John H., 



whose name opens this biography ; Kather- 
ine, wife of Lewis Nusbaumer ; Winfield, in 
Randolph county, Indiana; Joshua, deceas- 
ed, as are also James, Thomas, Mary and 
WilHs. 

John H. Reeves attended the Harper 
school house in Nottingham township. Wells 
county, until eighteen years of age, when his 
father removed to Adams county, accom- 
panied by John H., who worked until twen- 
ty-eight years old for his father for no 
recompense beyond his expenses. 

September 5, 1885, John H. Reeves was 
united in marriage with Miss Martha E. 
Coffman, who was born July 27, 1867, in 
Wells county, a daughter of Jacob and 
Amelia Coffman, the former of whom was 
born in Hocking county, Ohio, and the latter 
in Wells county, Indiana. Jacob Coffman 
is a son of Andrew Coffman, one of the old 
pioneers of Wells county, and with his wife, 
Amelia, now resides in Ruth, Wells county, 
in quiet retirement and highly esteemed by 
their neighbors ; they had born to them thir- 
teen children, in the following order : Re- 
becca, deceased; Martha E., wife of John H. 
Reeves; Nancy, deceased; James, deceased; 
Peter, residing in Wells county ; Charlotte, 
wife of William Fordice, of Huntington; 
Benjamin, deceased ; Charles, in Wells coun- 
ty; Mary, Edward, Bertha, Alta, deceased, 
and Esther. 

John H. Reeves for eight years after his 
marriage continued to live and work on his 
father's farm, which he then purchased. It 
is but just to add that the father deducted 
one thousand dollars from the purchase 
price, however, in consideration of the labor 
the latter had previously performed, leaving 
a balance of eighteen hundred dollars to be 
paid by the son, who has erected all the build- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



285 



ings necessary, has nnderclrained the fields 
and meadows, and has sixty-four acres in a 
good state of cultivation ; but he gives special 
attention to the breeding of Berkshire hogs, 
while he does not neglect other classes of live 
stock. 

To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John 
H. Reeves have been born six children, 
namelv : Glennie. August 26, 1886 ; Tressie, 
November 25. 1889: Earnest. January 30. 
1892: Harold, February 14, 1895; Baby 
Reeves. January 3, 1899, and an infant 
daughter, deceased. 

In 1896 John H. Ree\-es and P. B. Al- 
berson purchased a store in Phenix from 
Thomas Bouse and for some time conducted 
a prosperous general trade, Mr. Reeves sub- 
sequently selling his interest to Charles 
Mann; at the present time Mr. Reeves holds 
an interest in the fine Percheron Norman 
horse, Daniel, and of this animal he has 
charge. He also has six producing oil wells 
on his land, which have netted him about 
three thousand dollars. 

Mr. and ?ilrs. Reeves are active as well 
as devout members of the United Brethren 
church at Phenix, of which Mr. Reeves is 
also a member of the board of trustees. He 
is likewise a member of Lodge No. 721, I. O. 
O. F., at Petroleum, in which he has filled 
all the chairs and represented his lodge in the 
grand lodge; he is at present a member of 
Encampment No. 145, of Pennville. He and 
wife are likewise members of Rebekah 
Lodge No. 571 at Petroleum, and Mrs. 
Reeves has missed attending its meetings 
but twice in two years. In politics Mr. 
Reeves is a Democrat and is very active in 
local affairs, having been largely instru- 
mental in causing the Phenix gravel road to 
be laitl out. 



MARTIN KIZER. 

A native of Champaign county, Ohio, 
Martin Kizer was born April 24, 1841, a son 
of Martin Kizer, who was born in the same 
county December 19, 18 19, and on the same 
farm. Martin Kizer, Sr., was a son of Jos- 
eph and Catherine (Coner) Kizer, who were 
natives of Virginia. Joseph Kizer settled 
with his family in Champaign county, Ohio, 
in 18 1 3, and there passed the remainder of 
life, having had born to them eight children, 
namely : Peter. Philip, Daniel, Benjamin, 
Charles, Polly, Cornelius and IMartin, all 
now deceased. 

Martin Kizer, Sr., grew to manhood in 
Champaign county. Ohio, and there married 
Mary A. Rinaker, who was born June 4, 
1820, in Page county, Virginia. She was a 
daughter of Abraham and Mary Rinaker, 
also natives of the Old Dominion, and after 
his marriage Martin Kizer, Sr., and his wife 
lived in the old homestead until the fall of • 
1 85 1, when they removed to Adams county, 
where Martin, Sr., bought two hundred and 
two acres in the woods at two dollars and a 
half per acre, put up a cabin eighteen by 
twenty feet and cleared up four acres, hiring 
Robert Simminson to do the clearing. By 
the end of the first year seven acres had been 
cleared, and from that time on six or eight 
acres were cleared per year until sixty-five 
acres were placed under cultivation. On this 
farm Martin Kizer died November 6, 1878, 
while Mary A. is )'et living, aged eighty-two 
years old, at Beuna Vista, with her daughter, 
Mrs. Rosanna Christman. To Martin, Sr., 
and wife were born five children, viz : Mar- 
tin, whose name opens this record; Cather- 
ine, deceased wife of Joseph Runyon ; Philip, 
deceased; Rosanna. wife of William Christ- 
man, and Emanuel. 



286 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Martin Kizer, at the age of ten years, 
came with his parents to Indiana. They lo- 
cated in Adams county, where young Martin 
attended the pubhc schools until twenty-one 
years old, and then taught one term, but did 
not like the vocation on acount of its being 
too confining. He continued to live with his 
father until he reached his twenty-second 
year, and on July 30, 1863, married Mary 
Ann Run3on, who was born October 7, 
1840, in Champaign county, Ohio, where 
her parents, John and Mary Runyon, natives 
of \"irginia. had settled in 1842. From 
Champaign county the Runyon family 
mo\-ed to Adams county in 1842 and lived 
imder a beech tree until they had an oppor- 
tunity' of putting up a cabin, and there the 
parents died, the mother at the age of sixty- 
six years and the father at eighty-three. 

After his marriage Martin Kizer erected 
a cabin on his father's farm, in which he 
lived four years. The father then presented 
the son with a forty-acre tract of wild land, 
on which the latter built a dwelling, eighteen 
by twenty-two feet, and here he and wife 
lived until 1883. Mr. Kizer cleared off his 
forty-acre tract, then sold it and bought one 
hundred and twenty acres, to which he re- 
moved and on which he still resides. The 
high ground on this place had been cleared, 
but there were no ditches in the low ground. 
Since then Mr. Kizer has, however, done 
an immense amount of ditching and draining 
and has made many other improvements. 
He has seven producing oil wells on his 
premises, yielding from ninety to one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars per month, and besides 
carrying on general farming he breeds Ches- 
ter White and Duroc hogs and Holstein 
cattle. 

The marriage of Martin Kizer and Marv 



Ann Runyon has been crowned with five 
children, viz: Emma C, born August 13. 
1866, is now the wife of Andrew Burgess 
and has five children, Mildred, Josie, Wel- 
ford, Bessie and Marie; Thomas E., born 
April 4, 1869, is a teacher in Wells county 
and is also attending school at Angola ; Cora 
E., born SeptemlDcr 3, 1871, was married to 
Samuel Dickerson, but died November 29, 
1899; William W., born February 13, 1874, 
is still with his parents; Orlando O., born 
February 5, 1877, is also at the paternal 
home. 

Mr. Kizer is a Democrat in politics and 
has served as trustee of Adams township. 
In religion he and family are Methodists and 
to his church Greenwood cemeter}- in Adams 
county was donated by Martin Kizer, Sr. 

When Martin Kizer, the younger, started 
housekeeping he had one yearling colt and a 
cow, but no swine, and he also had thirty-five 
dollars in cash, but through his industry and 
skill he has been able to add continuously 
to his possessions ever since and today stands 
among the most substantial and respected 
farmers of his township and community. 



HENRY BOWER. 



Many of the early settlers of Indiana 
were natives of Pennsylvania. They did 
not all come direct from the Keystone state 
but most of them sojourned a number of 
3^ears in some part of Ohio before coming 
to the land of the Hoosier. The Bower fam- 
ily was among those who entered from 
Pennsylvania through the gateway of Ohio. 
Henr}' Bower, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Fairfield county, Ohio. August 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



287 



16, 1846. His parents and grandparents 
were natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrat- 
ed to Ohio in the early part of the last cen- 
tury. Simon and Hannah Bower were his 
grandparents and Joel Bower was his father. 
The latter married, in Ohio, Susan Shoe- 
maker, who was a daughter of Henry Shoe- 
maker. After his marriage Joel followed 
the business of making and repairing shoes. 

In 1853, believing he could materially 
better the condition of his family by doing 
so, Joel Bower moved with his wife and chil- 
dren to Nottingham township. Wells county, 
Indiana. They spent their first winter on 
the old Henry King farm and in the spring 
built a log house on their own land, in the 
woods, the farm where Henry Bower, the 
subject, now resides. The remainder of the 
lives of Mr. and Mrs. Bower was spent upon 
this place. They were the parents of ten 
children, only six of whom are now living, 
Henry, Simon, Ephraim L., Jacob, Noah 
and Mahlon. Each received the benefit of 
a good common school education and are 
worthy, useful citizens. 

Until he had attained his majority Henry 
Bower remained in the employ of his father. 
W^hen he was twenty-one years of age his 
father turned over to him the customary re- 
\^■ard of the time for the youth who had 
helped his father until he was twenty-one, 
viz : a horse, bridle and saddle. His father 
then offered him employment by the month 
at good wages. He accepted and worked for 
his father until March. 1868, when he was 
united in marriage to Miss Albina Hurst, a 
native of Darke county, Ohio. Her parents 
were Samuel and Sabella Hurst, who were 
among the early settlers of Wells county 
and who continued to reside there until their 
deaths. Mrs. Bower died December 18, 



1900, leaving her husband and seven chil- 
dren to mourn her loss. The children are: 
Clara married Harvey Foust, who died re- 
cently, leaving a widow with two children, 
Lora and Estella M. ; Sabilla married James 
G. Nute and they have two children, Grace 
and Ruth ; Ephraim married Nannie Oswalt, 
lives just west of his father and cultivates 
his father's lands; they have one child, 
Merle; Susan married Art Fetters and they 
have two children, Gladys and Ethel ; Eli is 
a school teacher and' resides with his 
widowed sister, Mrs. Harvey Foust; Jennie 
wedded John Cosart, of Chester township, 
and Hattie is still at home. Up to the time 
of her marriage, Susan, Mrs. Fetters, had 
also been a teacher. 

Soon after his marriage Henry Bower 
settled on seventy-six acres of woodland, 
half a mile south of Poneto. Here the 
family resided for about thirteen years, the 
husband and father clearing the land and 
having to work much of the time away from 
home in order to make a living for his fam- 
ily. In the beginning of their domestic career 
the Bowers were not possessed of much 
property. He had a horse and later secured 
a start in swine by purchasing a sow and 
pigs. In 1871 he sold the place they first set- 
tled on after he had cleared about thirty 
acres, and purchased the place on which he 
now lives, one hundred and twenty acres. 
At the time of the purchase about sixty acres 
were cleared on this place. Ninety acres are 
now cleared out of the one hundred that re- 
main, he having sold twenty acres, which 
is now owned' by his son Ephraim. The 
place is splendidly improved, between fifteen 
hundred and sixteen hundfed rods of tiling 
having been put in on the place. He breeds, 
feeds and rears all kind of stock, to which 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



he devotes his entire attention, tiie farm l3e- 
ing rented. There are five oil wells upon 
his place that are bringing him each month 
sixty dollars, and he has location for three 
more. Farming has formed the entire life- 
work of Mr. Bower. In politics he was a 
Democrat, but of late years he has refrained 
from voting, not taking enough interest in 
the campaign to go to the polls. He is not 
a member of any religious denomination 
nor of any fraternal order, but has no objec- 
tion whatever to either. He likes to hear a 
good discourse by an able speaker on almost 
any subject and sometimes attends church 
when the prospects of hearing a good ser- 
mon are good. He is a thoughtful, conserva- 
tive, prudent man, with no ambition what- 
ever to be considered either learned or bril- 
liant. For himself he says he has endeav- 
ored to fill the little niche in life well. Sins, 
both of omission and commission, he has 
been scrupulously careful to avoid, but he is 
human and it is human to err. However, if 
some of the "truly good" people could point 
I'l a life with as little blemish, the world 
would have been many times brighter than 
it has been. 



FRANKLIN P. RISLEY. 

The subject of this review is one of the 
leading farmers and stock raisers of Chester 
township and as a citizen ranks with the rep- 
resentative men of Wells county. His 
father, Harvey Risley, who was born Febru- 
ary 8, 1828, came to Wells county when a 
boy and lived with Adam Miller until at- 
taining his majority, after which he began 
life for himself as an agriculturist. In his 



young manhood Harvey Risley married 
Miss Harriet Gracy, whose birth occurred 
in Ross county, Ohio, December 4, 1832, her 
parents moving to the county of Wells when 
she was a child. After his marriage Mr. 
Risley settled on a farm in Harrison town- 
ship and in due tin^e became one of the suc- 
cessful tillers of the soil as well as one of 
the leading citizens of the community in 
which he resides. He and wife still live 
where the}' originally located and are ac- 
counted by all who know them a most exr 
cellent and praiseworthy couple, having the 
good of their neighbors and fellow citizens 
ever at heart. They have prospered in life 
and are the parents of eight children, the 
subject of th.is sketch being the oldest of the 
number: the others are Almira, who died at 
the age of four years; Eliza, wife of Eli 
French, of Nottingham township : Etta, 
now Mrs. Amos Mowery, lives in Harrison 
township ; Ulysses S. G. lives with his par- 
ents and runs the home place: Harvey A., 
Samuel I. and Ethie A. are also members of 
the home circle. 

Franklin P. Risley was born February 
25, 1853. in Harrison township. Wells 
county, Indiana, and spent the years of his 
childhood and youth in close touch with na- 
ture on the family homestead. He was 
reared to habits of industry and early learned 
the valuable lesson of self-reliance which 
contributed so much to his success in after 
life. Between working on tlie farm in sum- 
mer time and attending the district schools 
of winter seasons, he spent his first eighteen 
years and then entered the Blufifton high 
school where he prosecuted his studies for 
three terms with the object in view of teach- 
ing. Mr. Risley taught his first term in 
district No. i, Harrison township, and the 




MRS. FRANK RISLEY. 




F. P. RISLEY. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



following year took charge of the school 
in district ii, at lx)th places earning the 
reputation of a capable, painstaking and 
popular instructor. These experiences in the 
educational field convinced him that teach- 
ing was a hard and unremunerative voca- 
tion, consequently he abandoned it and 
turned his attention to other occupations for 
a livelihood. Purchasing an engine and 
separator, he spent several seasons threshing 
grain and in this way made considerable 
money, meanwhile devoting a goodly part 
of each year to agricultural pursuits. 

On the i8th day of March, 1877, Mr. 
Risley was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
A. Watson, daughter of J. M. and Elnora 
Watson, who came to Wells county in an 
early day from their native state, Ohio. 
Mrs. Risley is a native of Nottingham town- 
ship, this county, born November 17, 1858, 
and was reared to young womanhood near 
the place of her birth, receiving a good edu- 
cation in the common schools. During the 
three years following his marriage Mr. Risley 
rented land in the township of Harrison and 
at the expiration of that time discontinued 
agriculture for the purpose of engaging in 
the drug trade at the town of Linn Grove. 
After a fairly successful career of eighteen 
months at that place, he transferred his busi- 
ness to the village of Keystone where he ran 
a drug store for three years and then added 
to his special lines a general stock of mer- 
chandise.' Mr. Risley built up a large and 
lucrati\-e trade and earned an enviable repu- 
tation as a careful and conservative business 
man. His wide acquaintance and personal 
popularity contributed much to his success 
and as long as he was identified with com- 
mercial pursuits he never lacked his full 
complement of patronage. He continued 



the business until about 1893, when he dis- 
posed of his stock and with the proceeds pur- 
chased a beautiful farm in Chester township 
on which he has since lived and prospered. 
While at Keystone he was station agent for 
the Lake Erie & Western Railroad and in 
connection with his duties in this capacity 
and his regular business he carried on an 
extensive grain trade. During his incum- 
bency there was a much larger volume of 
business done at Keystone than at any pre- 
vious period in the history of the town and 
the records of the oflice show a great falling 
off in the amount of freight receipts since he 
resigned the office. At certain seasons of 
the year the monthly freight receipts ran 
as high as eight thousand dollars, by far the 
greater part of which resulted from the grain 
business of which he was the head. Since 
the year 1894 Mr. Risley has devoted his at- 
tention to farming with most gratifying 
success, and in addition thereto he has 
achieved much more than local repute as a 
raiser of fine live stock, especially Hereford 
cattle and the Duroc and Jersey breeds of 
hogs. He has a beautiful and attractive 
home, the general appearance of his farm in- 
dicating advanced agricultural methods, and 
everything to which he addresses himself 
appears to prosper. In the year 1894 he was 
elected on the Republican ticket to the office 
of township trustee and that, too, in face of 
a normally large Democratic majority, 
which fact attests the high place he holds in 
public esteem. During his incumbencv of 
six years he did much in the way of public 
improvements, building three new school 
houses, one of them being the high school at 
Keystone, which was the first attempt at ad- 
vanced education in the history of the town- 
ship. By a successful system of consolida- 



290 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tion lie was enabled to abandon one district 
school and centralize the pupils in the above 
village, where there are nov,' five teachers 
employed, instead of one as formerly. This 
has resulted greatly to the benefit of the 
schools, as it is now possible for students to 
obtain a good high school education with 
little or no expense. 

As already stated, Mr. Risley is a Re- 
publican; he cast his first presidential vote 
for Rutherford B. Hayes and from that time 
to the present has been prominent in the 
councils of his party and an active worker in 
the ranks. He has served as delegate to a 
number of county conventions and five or 
six times represented his township in the 
state conventions of his party. Fraternally 
he is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Mont- 
pelier Lodge No. 410. in which he has held 
every official position within the power of 
the organization to bestow. In matters re- 
ligious he subscribes to the Methodist 
Protestant creed, he and wife being identi- 
fied with the church at Keystone. 

Mr. and Mrs. Risley have had eight chil- 
dren, namely: Lucy E., born October 25, 
1877, died November 24, of the same year ; 
Irvin E.. born March 13. 1879, was acci- 
dentally killed at Keystone on the 30th of 
March, 1889, while attempting to couple two 
freight cars; Stella E. M., born June 9, 
1 88 1, married Earl V. Shimp and at the 
present time holds an important clerical po- 
sition in a business house at Keystone ; Ruel, 
born July 14, 1885, departed this life on the 
i6th day of December, 1885 ; Wanda P. was 
born February 14, 1887, and died Novem- 
ber II of the year following; Eva O. A. 
was born on the 27th of October, 1889; 
Adam C. C. was born September 11, 1892, 
and Vergie N. M., the youngest of the fam- 



ily, first saw the fight of day on the 29th of 
August, 1895. Mr. Risley has provided well 
for his children and given them every edu- 
cational advantage within his power, besides 
assisting in a very substantial way those who 
married. He is a gentleman of intelli- 
gence and fine business abilities, stands high 
socially and his position as a representative 
citizen of Wells county has been fairly and 
honorablv earned. 



LEVI SPAULDING. 

Levi Spaulding was born January 30, 
1853, in Chester township. Wells county, 
Indiana. He is a son of Stephen S. Spauld- 
ing, born in Weston, Virginia. He came to 
Blackford county, Indiana, about 1836, and, 
until he was about twenty-one years old, 
lived with his brother John, from whom he 
received as remuneration for his time and 
labor, a horse, saddle and bridle. He then 
farmed his brother Franklin's place for one 
or two years. About the year 1840 he pur- 
chased ninety acres of land, now owned by 
H. McCullick and George Eli. The land 
was all in the woods at that time, but he 
managed to have it all cleared up. August 
27, i860, he purchased a part of the farm 
where the subject of this sketch now lives, 
and at a later period purchased more ad- 
joining land. Stephen Spaulding was mar- 
ried September 2, 1849, to Phoeba (God- 
frey) Spaulding, born April 2, 1829. He 
died October 29, 1877, and his wife. Nov- 
ember 16, 1874. 

Stephen Spaulding, after leaving Black- 
ford county, settled in Wells county, Indi- 
ana, where he remained until his death, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



291 



wliich occurred on the farm where H. Mc- 
CuIIick now lives. At the time of his death 
he owned three hundred and twenty acres of 
land. He was twice married, and to his first 
union seven children were born, of whom 
three are living : An infant died October 6, 
185 1, and another, December 16, 1865; 
John, born September 12. 1867, died Sep- 
tember 7. 1870; Marinda, born January 15, 
1856, died in the spring of 1898 ; Levi, born 
January 30, 1853 ; Stillman, born August 
19, 1858; and Mary, born June 27. 1862. 
Two children were born to his second mar- 
riage: Jennie, May 5, 1876, and William. 
October 4, 1877. 

Levi Spaulding was born on the first 
piece of land his father bought, and attended 
public school in Chester township, Wells 
county, until he was twenty-one years of age. 
In the meantime he also attended normal 
school at Bluffton, Hartford City and Mont- 
pelier, Indiana. He then took charge of his 
father's farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres, in which his brother Stillman also 
assisted him. During this time he had pur- 
chased the farm where he now lives, and on 
October 25, 1875, he moved onto this place. 
He continued to farm his father's place until 
the death of the latter in 1877, when the 
land was divided. He now has eighty- 
three acres of fine land, which has on it 
twelve oil wells, producing about forty bar- 
rels a day. 

December 2, 1875, ^^r. Spaulding was 
married to ]\Iaggie M. Helm, bom March 
20. 1855. in Darke county, Ohio, a daughter 
of Charles and Matilda (Bates) Helm. 
Charles Helm was born in Darke county, 
Ohio, August 5, 1828, and died in Hartford 
City, Indiana. December 26. 1901, at the 
age of seventy-three years, four months and 



twenty-one days. November 25, 1852, he 
married Matilda C. Bates, who was born 
July 4, 1833. Eleven children, five sons 
and six daughters, were born to their union, 
all of whom are living except one daughter, 
who died in 1892. Their names are as 
follows: Alonzo, Maggie M., Orlando, 
Daniel, George, Emma, Frances, deceased, 
Elizabeth, John, Laura and Effie. All were 
mature men and women before there was a 
death in their ranks. Levi is the father of 
one child, Bessie, born February 14, 1882 ; 
she married Roy M. Shadle, son of James 
B. Shadle. Roy is the father of two chil- 
dren, Beatrice, born May 28, 1900, and 
Charles, born August 29, 1901. 

Mrs. Spaulding is connected with the 
Methodist Protestant church, of which she 
is a consistent member, an amiable and ex- 
emplary Christian lady. She is also a mem- 
ber of the Woman's Relief Corps of Mont- 
pelier. Indiana. Her husband is a member 
of Lodge No. 410. I. O. O. F., of 
Alontp^lier. He is a Republican in politics, 
having cast his first vote for U. S. Grant 
for President and has continued to vote 
the ticket since that time. He has tak- 
en an active part in politics and has fre- 
quentl}- served his party as a delegate to po- 
litical conventions. He was one of the dele- 
gates who selected a district delegate to the 
national convention that nominated McKin- 
ley for his second term to the presidency of 
the United States. Mr. Spaulding has been a 
general stock farmer and has devoted his 
life to the vocation of a farmer. He has also 
opened two gravel pits on his farm, out of 
which more than five thousand cubic yards 
were taken at one time. He is an upright, 
energetic citizen, keenly alive to every in- 
terest which affects the welfare of the com- 



292 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



munity in which he lives and, being in the 
prime of life, he has the expectation of many 
years of future usefulness to his fellow men. 



WILLIAM O. TERHUNE. 

William O. Terhune was born September 
27, 1862, in the state of Illinois, and is a son 
of Garrett and Mary Ann Terhune, both of 
whom are deceased. William O. attended 
school in the "Red School House," in Ches- 
ter township. Wells county, Indiana, until 
he was eighteen years old, and remained 
at home with his father working for his 
board and clothing until he was twenty-one 
years Of age. He then began to cultivate his 
father's farm, receiving one-fourth of the 
crops for his labor, continuing to farm on 
those conditions until his marriage, which 
occurred ]\Iarch 4, 1886. On this date he 
was united in wedlock with Nancy Catherine 
Jones, who was born about 1867 and is a 
daughter of Isaac and Sallie (Hufifman) 
Jones, lioth of whom are yet living in Jack- 
son township and who were among the first 
settlers of Wells county, Indiana. Isaac 
Jones is the father of nine children : Henry, 
at home with his father; Susan, the wife of 
A. E. Terhune; Mary, the wife of Ira 
Brown, living in Warren, Indiana; Daniel, 
a farmer in Jackson township; Eliza, the 
wife of Jacob Sills, now living in Chester 
township; Nancy C, wife of the subject; 
Ella, wife of John Alspach ; Nora, wife of 
Charley Stimson ; Amy, the wife of Frank 
White, and Minnie, who is the wife of Wil- 
lard Grover. 

The subject, after his marriage, con- 
tinued to farm the old home place, living 



with his parents and receiving one-third of 
the crops. He continued in this manner until 
within two years of his father's death, when 
he obligated himself to support his father, 
pay taxes, keep up repairs, etc., and received 
all the proceeds of the farm. After the 
death of his father he remained in possession 
of the old home place, a farm of one hundred 
and twenty-six acres. The subject is a gen- 
eral stock farmer, and breeds Poland China 
hogs and a general stock of cattle. He is a 
believer in the system of feeding his grain 
and forage on the farm and driving it to 
market on the hoof. He has on his farm six 
producing oil wells and prospects for more, 
which gives him a neat monthly royalty. 

Mr. Terhune is the father of eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living: Henry, 
bom June 4, 1887; Nellie, bom October 26. 
1888; Perry, born July 10, 1890; Neva, 
born April 11, 1892; Dessie, born July 3, 
1894; an infant son that died unnamed; 
Gbldie, born October 24, 1898; Ralph, 
born January 21, 1901. The subject has al- 
ways lived on the farm and devoted his life 
to agricultural pursuits. He has been suc- 
cessful and is now enjoying the results of 
his industry and frugality in the possession 
of a well stocked and well cultivated farm, 
a pleasant country home, surrounded by 
sons and daughters who are being educated 
for future usefulness as citizens of the 
state. In politics the subject has always been 
a Republican and takes a lively interest in the 
success of his party in their recurring cam- 
paigns. He is regarded as a successful and 
substantial tiller of the soil, possessing the 
esteem and confidence of his neighbors, and 
by his character and standing adds dignity 
to the class which he represents. His home 
life is typical of the millions of homes of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



293 



our country, in whicli resides a silent 
strengtli tiiat wields a powerful influence in 
the affairs of state, and contains in the sons 
and daughters thereof a bulwark of future 
strength for the perpetuity of the principles 
of the republic. 



SAMUEL L \EHER. 

The discovery of natural gas and oil in 
Indiana opened up a vast field for the opera- 
tions of working men in that region. Wlien 
oil was disco^'ered in Wells county, Indiana, 
Samuel I. Xelier, of Nottingham township, 
the subject of this sketch, was working at 
his trade, that of a carpenter. Very soon 
after oil well operations began he dropped 
his hammer, saw and plane and took to drill- 
ing wells, which he found far more remu- 
nerative and from which, coupled with a 
few fortunate investments in leases, he has 
derived a very comfortable competency. 

Samuel I. Neher was born October 18, 
1873, in Allen county, Ohio. His parents 
were Samuel and Rebecca (Nevel) Neher, 
a sketch of whose lives appears in another 
part of this \'oIume. When only three years 
old Samuel I. Neher came to Wells county 
with his parents. He attended the public 
schools of Nottingham township until he 
was nineteen years old and remained with 
his parents until he was twenty-one years of 
age. During his minority he learned the 
trade of a carpenter and when he started to 
make his own way in the world he worked 
for a number of years at that calling. In 
the spring of 1900 he laid down his carpen- 
ter tools, took up the work of drilling wells 
in the oil field and has devoted his time to 
1:hat business ever since. On attaining his 



majority his father presented him with three 
hundred dollars with which to make a start 
in life. In 1900, in company wdth C. E. 
Dyson, he purchased a set of drilling tools 
and they operated them jointly that year. 
He bad-had aljout six months' experience in 
operating a drilling machine before making 
the purchase. In 1901 they took into part- 
nership W. B. Kirkwood and J. P. Lock- 
wood, each owning a quarter interest, and 
soon they were the owners of tw-o sets of 
tools which they kept going constantly. 

March 18, 1899, Samuel I. Neher was 
'united in marriage to Miss Louella Lock- 
v.'ood, who was born on March 7, 1879, a 
daughter of J. E. and Frances (Blackledge) 
Lock wood. (For a sketch of their lives the 
reader is respectfully referred to another 
part of this volume.) After marriage the 
young couple established themselves at 
housekeeping in Petroleum, where they re- 
mained six months, then moved to the J. E. 
Lockwood farm and remained there until 
March i, 190J, when the_\- moved to their 
present home. They are the parents of one 
child, Hugh, born March 19, 1900. 

Immediately on the formation of the 
partnership above referred to the firm began 
procuring leases and developing oil terri- 
tory. They procured leases from Katherine 
Kimnels. H. E. Johns. Cynthia Bowers and 
C. E. Dyson, sunk their first well in Febru- 
ary. 1902, and continued until four wells 
were completed and were just finishing the 
fifth, in July, 1902, when they sold out to 
Alena & Thomas for sixteen thousand dol- 
lars. They are now in the employ of that 
firm and are engaged in sinking wells on the 
property they had leased. As indicating 
the success Mr. Neher has achieved, it is 
worthv of note that, although he has been 



294 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



in business for himself less than eight years, 
a fair valuation of his personal property 
alone would be not less than six thousand 
dollars. 

In politics Mr. Neher always votes the 
Republican ticket, and although making no 
pretensions to being a politician and never 
perniciously partisan, he takes considerable 
interest during political campaigns. He is a 
member of Lodge No. 721, L O. O. F., at 
Petroleum and is deeply interested in lodge 
one would have to be endowed with the spirit 
work. Barely beginning a business career, 
of prophecy to hazard even a guess as to 
what the result will be, but judging by the 
character of the man, the splendid business 
methods he brings to his aid and the invari- 
able success he akeady has achieved, there 
is little doubt, if he lives the allotted period of 
man, that tlie closing years of his life will be 
blessed with ample means to supply every 
want. 



G. H. SNOW 



The subject of this review is a repre- 
sentative of one of the old families of Wells 
county and inherits many of the sterling 
characteristics of a long line of sturdy an- 
cestors. The Snow family in America ap- 
pears to have originated in New England, 
the subject's grandfather, Sewell Snow, hav- 
ing been a native of Rutland, Vermont. 
He was born in the year 1807 and in young 
manhood married Miss Mariel Gates, a na- 
tive of Boston, Massachusetts. In 1835 he 
moved to Ohio and six years later came to 
Wells county, Indiana, accompanied by his 
sons George and Henry, settling in what is 
now Chester township. He located on what 



is known as the Gruver farm, which he 
cleared and otherwise improved and on 
which he spent the remainder of his life, 
dying there a number of years ago at a ripe 
old age. 

Henry Snow, one of the two sons of 
Sewell, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, 
on the 15th of August, 1833. He was a 
lad of eight years when his father came to 
Indiana and from that time until death his 
life was very closely interwoven with the 
growth and development of W^ells county. 
In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Booth, who was born in Guernsey 
county, Ohio, September 8, 1835, the daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Rebecca (Lethero) 
Booth, who were among the pioneer settlers 
of Chester township. Henry Snow be- 
gan life for himself as a farmer and ex- 
perienced all the hardships and vicissitudes 
peculiar to the early period in a new and 
densely wooded countr}'. Purchasing a 
tract of unimproved land, he built a little 
jioneer cabin for the reception of his bride 
and spent the first winter after taking pos- 
session of his place deadening timber and 
fitting for cultivation a small area to which 
flie term field could hardly be applied. The 
following spring he returned to his father's 
farm, which he cultivated on the shares dur- 
ing the ensuing two years and then returned 
to his own place, which he never again left 
until called from earthly scenes. He made 
a fine farm, accumulated a liberal share of 
this world's goods and earned the reputa- 
tion of an honest, upright man and enter- 
prising citizen. His relations with his fellow- 
men were characterized by a high sense of 
honor and in his death, which occurred on 
the 31st of March, 1896, the community lost 
one of its most valuable neighbors and the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



295 



county one of its representative men of af- 
fairs. 

Mr. Snow left to mourn his loss a widow 
and three children, besides a host of friends 
who had learned to appreciate him for his 
true manly worth. His oldest child, Mol- 
lie, married Joseph Stahl and lives in Lib- 
erty township; her husband is one of the 
prosperous farmers of that section and at 
the present time is serving as a member of 
the board of count}' commissioners. Mr. 
and Mrs. Stahl have two children. Edith 
S. and Homer A. G. H. Snow, of this 
sketch, is the second in order of birth and 
after him comes Giffon, whose sketch will 
be found elsewhere in these pages. 

G. H. Snow was born in Chester town- 
ship. Wells county, on the 22nd day of Aug- 
ust, 1862, and his early life on the farm was 
marked by no event of especial note. At 
the proper age he entered the district schools, 
which • he attended of winter seasons until 
his twentieth year, meantime devoting the 
spring and summer months to the varied 
duties of the farm. On attaining his ma- 
jority he and his younger brother rented 
the home place and in this way continued 
to run the same until the father's death, 
since which time the two have farmed their 
respective parts of the estate, paying the 
mother two-fifths of the proceeds. 

Mr, Snow was married on the 27th of 
September, 1883, to Miss Matilda A, Moor- 
man, daughter of Eli and Lavina (Arnold) 
Moorman, natives respecti\'ely of Tippe- 
canoe cfiunty, Indiana, and Medina count}-, 
Ohio. ^Ir. Moorman came to Wells county 
a number of years ago and after his mar- 
riage mrived to the county of W^hite. where 
he lived for a period of four years, returning 
to \\'ells at the expiration of that time and 



settling in Jackson township. He died some 
years ago at the residence of his daughter 
in Blackford county, since which time the 
widow has lived among her children. ^Irs, 
Snow was born February 18, 1865, and re- 
ceived her education in the district schools 
of Wells county. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Snow began housekeeping on the Snow 
homestead, where they have since lived and 
prospered and they are among the best 
known and most highly esteemed people in 
the township of their residence. Mr. Snow 
has devoted his attention almost exclusively 
to agriculture and his success has resulted in 
a competence of sufficient magnitude to place 
liim in the front rank with the enterprising 
pnd well-to-do men of his community. Of- 
the ten producing oil wells on the old farm, 
four have been drilled on his share of the 
estate and frorh this source alone he derives 
a very handsome income, w'ith the prospects 
of still more liberal returns in the future. 
Mr. Snow is a good mechanic and of re- 
cent years has done considerable in the way 
oi carpentering, although his principal pur- 
suit is and always has been agriculture, for 
which he has a natural liking and the dignity 
of which in his opinion compares favorably 
with any other vocation. In the matter of 
stock farming he has met with the most 
gratifying results, his breeds of Chester 
White hogs, Galloway cattle and South 
Down sheep being among the best animals 
of the kind in this part of the state. ]\Ir. 
Snow is a gentleman of taste as well as pro- 
gressive ideas, as is evident from the fine 
condition of his farm and the various attrac- 
tive features of his residence. By no means 
a partisan in the sense the term is usually 
understood, he is a stanch supporter of the 



296 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Democratic party and keeps himself well 
informed upon current political ciuestions 
and industrial topics. His family belong to 
the Christian church, to the belief of which 
religious body he also subscribes and for the 
su])port of which he lends his influence and 
contributes material aid. He has lived an 
active, useful life, encouraging, the mean- 
while, all movements looking to the moral 
as well as the material good of his town- 
ship and county and those who know him 
best speak in high praise of his many ster- 
ling qualities of manhood. As a citizen he 
has ever had the interests of the people at 
heart and the rectitude of his intentions in 
all relations whatsoever have been above 
cavil or criticism. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Snow con- 
sists of three children, whose names and 
dates of birth are as follows: Charles L.. 
June 13, 1885; Bessie I.. October 13, 1886, 
and Von E., June 14, iSgi. 



GEORGE DYSON. 



This native of Hocking county, Ohio, 
was born October 9, 1839, and is one of the 
most prosperous retired agriculturists of 
Reififsburg, Wells county, Indiana. His 
father, who also was named George, was a 
native of Guernsey county. Ohio, and was a 
son of Thomas and Rosanne (Myers) Dy- 
son, the former of whom was a native of 
Guernsey county, Ohio, where George, his 
son, was reared to maturity and useful man- 
hood. 

In the county named the younger 
George of the two immediate predecessors 
of the George of this sketch married Eliza 



Styles, daughter of Freeman Styles, and af- 
ter marriage settled in Guernsey county, 
Ohi(j, where he engaged in farming until 
about 1832, when he removed to Hocking 
county and there passed the remainder of 
his life, dying on his farm in 1854, his wife 
Rosanne having died in 1845. To George 
and Eliza (Styles) Dyson were born, eight 
children, of whom four are still living, name- 
ly : Mary, Martha, George, whose name 
opens this record, and Matilda. 

George Dyson, with whom this biograph- 
ical sketch has the most to do, attended the 
schools of Hocking county, Ohio, until he 
was almost seventeen years of age, when, 
soon after the death of his father, he went 
to live with his uncle, Elijah, with whom he 
remained until he attained the age of twen- 
ty-one years. February 29, 186 1, George 
Dyson married Miss Melissa Nutter, who 
was born Fel)ruary 28, 1844, and is a daugh- 
ter of Levi and Sarah A. Nutter, and after ^ 
this happy event they went to housekeeping 
with a cash capital of one hundred and fifty 
dollars and a horse to boot. For some eigh- 
teen years after his marriage Mr. Dyson was 
employed in mining and to some extent in 
farming, near Gore, Hocking county, Ohio, 
where he eventually purchased a farm, for 
which he went in debt to the sum of nine 
hundred dollars. This sum he paid ofif with- 
in one year, having received seventy-five dol- 
lars per month as his earnings during that 
brief period. Mr. Dyson then sold his place 
in Hocking county, Ohio, and after some 
jDrospecting in Kansas, in 1883 decided that 
Indiana was as good a state as he cared to 
live in and accordingly purchased one hun- 
dred and three acres of good land in Not- 
tingham township. Wells county, for wtiich 
tract he paid twenty-three hundred dollars. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



297 



but found it necessary to clear up at least 
one-half of it. He. has erected all the build- 
ings, which are substantial and tasteful, the 
(Iwelling being new, his former residence 
having been destroyed by fire, and has his 
land well drained and ditched. His live 
stock consists of Galloway cattle principally, 
but his hogs are of mixed character. He also 
works three oil wells, which net him a hand- 
some income. All that Mr. Dyson owns has 
resulted from his industry and good manage- 
ment, and for the proper use of these good 
qualities he cannot be too strongly com- 
mended. 

To the marriage of George and Melissa 
(Xutter) Dyson have been born nine chil- 
dren, of whom six still survive, namely: 
Charles E., who is married to Ida Near, who 
has borne him three cliildren, Ida, Virgil and 
an infant, and all of whom live at present 
at the home of Mrs. Dj^son's father; Levi, 
who married Lydia A. Mowery, has a fam- 
ily of three children, Clarence, Velma and 
an infant, and lives in Harrison township, 
Wells county; Laura, married to Amos 
King, is also the mother of three children, 
Levi, Earnest and Jennie, and resides in Not- 
tingham township ; Cynthia, still beneath the 
parental roof; Frank, who married Irene 
Myres, and has likewise a family of three 
children, Josie, George and one unnamed, 
lives in Harrison township, his wife being 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
at that place ; Alice, the youngest of the fam- 
ily of six, is married to Cyrus Hoppes, lives 
near Petroleum and tliey have four children, 
Grace, Pearl, George and an infant as yet 
unnamed. 

Fraternally Mr. Dyson is a member of 
Lodge No. 721, I. O. O. F., at Petroleum, 
and politically always voted for the Demo- 



cratic party while he took an active part in 
politics, but of late he has voted as his judg- 
ment dictates, or, in other words, for the can- 
didate he judges to be best fitted for the of- 
fice to be filled. Mr. Dyson, although now 
living in respected retirement in Reiffsburg, 
still keeps a general supervision over his 
farming interests, being a business man from 
.\lpha to Omega. 



AMOS R. WILLIAMS. 

Amos R. Williams is a native of Wells 
county. Indiana, and was born in Notting- 
ham township, December i, 1849, a son of 
J. S. and Harriet (Bolenger) Williams. J. 
S. Williams was a native of Pennsylvania 
and removed from that state to Pickaw'ay 
county, Ohio, with his widowed mother 
while he was still ycjung, there grew to man- 
hood and for some years worked by the 
month or day at farm work. He married in 
Pickaway county Miss Bolenger, a native 
of that county, and after marriage settled on 
a farm, which he cultivated two years and 
then came to Wells county, Indiana, and set- 
tled in section i, Nottingham township. He 
had no property at that time, but his wife 
fell heir to forty acres of land, and by his 
own industry Mr. Williams eventually 
earned the money with which to purchase 
forty acres adjoining. This was all in the 
woods, but he worked hard and succeeded 
in clearing it off and continued making pur- 
chases until he owned three hundred and 
thirty acres, all in Nottingham township. 
He continued to reside on his original place 
until his death, which occurred September 
14, 1 90 1, when he left his widow with thir- 



298 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



teen children, viz : Alartha, wife of H. C. 
Melick; George, who resides in Coventry, 
Indiana; Amos R., of whom more will be 
said further on; Alary, wife of Frank 
Powell, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska; 
Emma, deceased wife of John Bowman; 
Sarah, deceased; Frank, deceased; Ada and 
Ida, twins, of whom Ada is married to A\- 
infancy; Hiram is a resident of Reififsburg; 
Thomas Stine, of Petroleum; John died in 
infancy; Hiram is a resident of Rieffsburg; 
Alice is a wife of Henry Markley, and 
Amanda is the wife of Thomas Duncan, a 
resident of Nebraska. 

Amos R. Williams attended school in 
Nottingham township imtil he had attained 
the age of twenty-one years, and at the age 
of twenty-two took a one-third interest in 
a saw-mill in partnership with his brother 
George and Henry Kirkwood. This firm 
operated the mill for three years, when Amos 
R. and Kirkwood bought out the interest 
of George Williams ; six months later Amos 
R. Williams bought out Kirkwood and con- 
ducted the mill on his own account for six 
months, when he traded it for eighty acres 
of land in section 9, this being the east half 
of the quarter section on which he now re- 
sides, and of which but a small portion had 
been cleared. He had previously owned the 
forty acres now belonging to Amos Gehrett, 
but he sold this tract and bought the west 
half of his present farm and now owns one 
hundred and si.xty acres in one compact 
bod}-. On his original tract of eighty acres 
there were no improvements, save a small 
frame house and an old log barn, very little 
fencing and no tiling. Mr. Williams, how- 
ever, set strenuously to work to make his 
place worth living on, but his health gave 
wav and in 1882 he moved to Bluffton. In- 



diana, where he resided two years and then 
returned to his farm, his health having been 
restored. In 1893 Mr. Williams built one 
of the finest barns in his neighborhood, and 
in 1897 erected a palatial residence. Be- 
sides his farm, Mr. Williams has an inter- 
est in a string of drilling tools, and his per- 
sonal assessment for 1902 reached sixteen 
hundred dollars. 

March 25, 1875, Amos R. Williams was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Kirk- 
wood, daughter of William and Susan 
(Gehrett) Kirkwood, natives of Ohio, but 
early settlers of Wells county, Indiana. The 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Williams has 
been blessed with nine children, namely : 
Oliver J.', who was born March 27, 1876, 
died September 3, 1877; William A., born 
March 11, 1 878, married Mary Foreman, 
and resides in Nottingham township; John 
F., born November 20, 1879, died August 2, 
1880; Verne, born August 4, 188 1; Pearl, 
born November 3, 1883 ; Delbert, born Sep- 
tember 15, 1885; Clem, born April 28, 
1887; Samuel, born September 11. 1889, 
and Anna, born September 3, 1892. 

Mr. Williams is a member of Lodge No. 
752, I. O. O. F., at Poneto, and has filled 
the chairs in Petroleum Lodge No. 721 ; 
his grown daughters are members of 
Rebekah Lodge No. 571. In politics Mr. 
Williams is a stanch Republican and has 
several times served as a delegate from his 
district in the county convention. He and 
family are among the most highly esteemed 
residents of \\'ells county, and well deserve 
the respect in which they are held. Mr. and 
Mrs. Williams have in their possession an 
old parchment sheepskin deed, bearing the 
signature of President Martin Van Buren 
and executed November 10, 1840. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



299 



SAMUEL NEHER. 

If one desires to gain a vivid realization 
of the raptd advance in tlie civilization which 
the last few decades have brought, he can 
listen to the stories that men who are still 
living among us can tell of their early ex- 
periences when the country was new and so- 
cial conditions in this part of the Hoosier 
slate were in their formative period. The 
township of Nottingham is the abiding place 
of a number of old settlers who, having 
spent the vigor and strength of their man- 
hood in carving from the wilderness homes 
for themselves and their posterity, are now 
in the evening of life, when the shadows are 
growing dim and the past gradually reced- 
ing from view, spending their declining 
}-ears in rest and quiet, surrounded by neigh- 
bors and the results of the work they did 
in laying broad and deep the foundation 
upon which the community's prosperity has 
been builded. Conspicuous among these 
silver-haired veterans of a time long past 
is the venerable and highly respected citi- 
zen to a brief review of whose career the 
following lines are devoted. 

Samuel Xeher was horn on the i8th of 
January, 1833, in Clark county, Ohio, and 
is the son of John Neher, whose parents 
were John and Magdalena Neher. The sub- 
ject's father was a native of Pennsylvania, 
born December 9, 1792, but in early youth 
he removed with his parents to Virginia, 
where he grew to manlnHxl. In that state, 
on the 1 2th of May, 18 16, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Anna Miller, a na- 
tive of the Old Dominion, born May 18, 
1797. the daughter of David Miller. After 
his marriage John Xeher engaged in farm- 
ing in Virginia, but in 1818 and 1819 re- 



moved to Clark county, Ohio, settling on a 
tract of one hundred and sixty acres and go- 
ing into debt for part of the purchase price. 
Subsequently he sold a portion of this tract, 
retaining the improved part, and then ap- 
plied himself to the task of clearing the 
south eighty acres. Selling this after a 
while, he bought his father's old homestead 
in Clark county, a condition of the sale be- 
ing that he was to care for his parents dur- 
ing the remainder of their lives, which stipu- 
lation he faithfully carried out. John and 
Anna Neher remained upon this place the 
balance of their days, his death occurring in 
August, 1846, and hers in September of the 
same year. They were the parents of nine 
children, of whom the subject is now the 
only survivor. These children are briefly 
mentioned as follows: Magdeline, born 
April 29, 18 1 7, died May 17, 1883; David, 
born June 20. 18 18, died August 13, 1841 ; 
Catherine, born December 16, 18 19, died 
March 29, 1895 ; Mary, born January 22, 
1822, died August 15, 1881; Jacob, born 
May 10, 1823, died April 17. 1845; 1°^^' 
born February 3, 1825, died September 29, 
1827: John, born May 6, 1827. died August 
16, 1830: Anna, born December 2^. 1829, 
died September 15. 1851: Samuel, the im- 
mediate subject. 

Samuel Neher is indebted to the common 
schools of Clark county, Ohio, for his edu- 
cational discipline, but because of his early 
environments his school days were neces- 
sarily limited. His parents died when he 
was but thirteen years old and one year later 
he chose for a guardian his cousin, John 
Neher. The later hired the subject out to 
David McMillon. the conditions being that 
he was to remain with the latter until he 
was eighteen years old and to receive for 



300 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



his services his board, clothing, schooHng 
and seventy-five dollars in money, which 
contract was faithfully executed by both par- 
ties. .Vt the end of the stipulated period 
Samuel Xeher began working by the month 
and soon learned and followed the trade of 
a carpenter. Two years later he was em- 
ployed on a shingle machine, at which he 
worked during two seasons. In 1856, 
shortly after his marriage, Mr. Xeher set- 
tled on an eighty-acre tract of land in Allen 
county, Ohio, for which he had paid eight 
hundred dollars cash. The land was heavily 
tnnbered, excepting ten acres, and the only 
building was a log house. Mr. Neher pos- 
sessed two horses, two pigs, and a cow. 
At that time he had no neighbors within 
sight and the condition of things generally 
was dreary and uninviting in the extreme. 
However, Mr. Neher had abundant faith in 
the future possibilities of the land, and en- 
tered bravely upon the task of clearing the 
land and fitting it for cultivation. He re- 
mained upon that place nine years, during 
which time he succeeded in clearing up forty 
acres of land and erected a commodious and 
substantial bank barn. Selling that place 
for three thousand dollars cash, he removed 
to Mercer county, Ohio, and purchased a 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres, for 
which he paid three thousand nine hundred 
dollars. He remained upon that place about 
two and a half years and for two years and 
three months of that time he was afflicted 
with the ague. Finding the country there 
did not agree with him, Mr. Neher traded 
that farm for five hundred dollars and fifty- 
three acres of land in Allen county, Ohio, and 
lived upon the latter place four years, re- 
covering his usual health the meantime. The 
first year there he devoted part of his time 



to the raising of potatoes, meeting with 
phenomenal success, some of the land yield- 
ing a bucketful of tubers to the hill. Selling 
that place, he then purchased one hundred 
and seven acres of land near Beaver Dam, 
in the same county, for which he paid three 
thousand six hundred dollars, going into 
debt for a part of the purchase price. He 
sold seven acres of this land, thus enablmg 
f'im to erect a good two-story house. After 
abiding on that place four years he dis- 
posed of it for five thousand dollars, and in 
1876 came to Wells county, Indiana, and 
]5urchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
land known as the Ferguson farm, paying 
for it four thousand nine hundred dollars. 
About sixty-five acres of this land was 
cleared, but other improvements were con- 
spicuous by their absence, there being a few 
poor fences, no ditches and the buildings 
were in very poor condition. By dint of 
hard and consecutive toil he cleared all but 
about fifteen acres of this land, put up sul> 
stantial and commodious buildings and 
brought the place up to a high standard 
of excellence. When the town of Petroleum 
was organized Mr. Neher sold oiif ten acres 
of his land and later sold seventy-two acres 
to Cyrus Hoppers, retaining seventy-four 
acres of as fine and productive land as can 
be found in Nottingham township. For the 
past eight years he has rented this farm, but 
it is now managed by Mr. Neher's son-in- 
law, Charles Dyson, who lives on the place. 
Mr. Neher has upon this place nine produc- 
ing oil wells, which net him a comfortable 
income. He has all his life been a hard 
wiirking- man and l)y his perseverance and 
indefatigable industry has accomplished his 
full share of redeeming this part of the coun- 
trv from its original wildness. 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



301 



On the 20th of January. 1856, Samuel 
Xeher was united in marriage with Miss 
Rebecca Nevel. Slie was born in Tuscara- 
was county. Ohio. April 4. 1838. the daugh- 
ter of John and Sokoonda (Bartholomew) 
Nevel. Her father, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, was born May 12, 1796. and died in 
1886. and her mother, a native of Germany, 
was born June 10. 1808. and died February 
1 1. 1879. The union of the subject and his 
wife was blessed by the birth of eight chil- 
dren, briefly mentioned as follows : John 
married Lucinda Warner and the}- have two 
children, Erwin and Ora : Amos is deceased ; 
David married Alice Warner and is the 
father of three children, Oscar. Ethel and 
George; Mary became the wife of S. N. 
Burket and is the mother of these children : 
dren : Ollie. Estella, Effie. John. Charles, 
Raymond and Ralph ; Sarah became tlie wife 
of Clinton S. Ferguson and they have three 
children, Clara, Samuel and Roy. Jacob is 
deceased ; Samuel L married Ella Lockwood 
and has one child. Hugh : Ida is the wife of 
Charles Dyson and the mother of three chil- 
dren. Iva. \^irgil and Ethel. 

Politically Air. Neher has throughout 
his life been a firm supporter of the Republi- 
can party, but at the last election, feeling 
that the suppression of the liquor traffic was 
the most vital question before the American 
people, he cast his vote for the Prohibition 
candidates. While residing in Ohio he was 
elected to the position of supervisor and at 
one time declined to run for trustee in the 
face of the expressed wish of his friends. 
The religious principles of the subject and 
his wife are embodied in the creed of the 
Cierman Baptist church, of which they have 
for many years been active and influential 
members. Mr. Neher has continuouslv 



since 1863 held a license to preach and is 
still deeply interested in the material and 
spiritual welfare of his church. During his 
connection with the church in the capacity 
of a minister he has had pastoral oversight 
of as many as four charges at one time, 
though never receiving much compensation. 
Besides his ministerial labors, he maintained 
a careful supervision of his farming inter- 
ests and in all the varied activities of life he 
has demonstrated a large capacity for hard 
and consecuti\-e work, both physical and 
mental. He lives a quiet, peaceable life, con- 
secrated to his fellow man, and his words 
as well as his example have inspired others 
to noble deeds and greater activities in right 
living. To say that Mr, Neher is a good 
man and upright citizen and a devout Chris- 
tian is to express a fact of which his neigh- 
bors and fellow citizens are fully cognizant. 
His aim has always been to do the right and 
it is to such as he our country is indebted for 
the stability of its institutions and for the 
large measure of prosperity which it enjoys. 



GIFFON SNOW. 



The gentleman whose life history is em- 
bodied in this review enjoys distinction as 
an enterprising farmer and successful stock 
raiser, while his standing as a worthy citi- 
zen, with the good of the community ever 
at heart, is second to that of no other resi- 
dent of the township in which he lives. 
Giflfon Snow was born on the farm which 
he now owns and cultivates, August 8, 1865, 
being the son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Booth) Snow, of wliom appropriate refer- 
ence will be found on another page of this 



302 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



volume. Reared in the country and early 
taught the lessons of industry and thrift 
with which the majority of farm lads be- 
come familiar, young Snow grew up a sturdy 
youth, strong in his determination to be- 
come an honest and useful man and to make 
the world better by his presence. His ac- 
quaintance with practical life began at an 
early age and until his eighteenth year he 
assisted with the labors of the farm and 
contributed his full share to the maintenance 
of the family. His educational privileges 
were such as the district schools afforded 
and these he attended until his seventeenth 
vear, making the most of his opportunities 
the meanwhile. At the age of eighteen he 
entered into partnership with his brother to 
cultivate the home place, each to receive one- 
third of the proceeds of their labor, the 
father furnishing the stock and necessary 
implements for the prosecution of the work. 
Subsequently, on the death of the father, the 
two brothers took the farm on equal shares 
and in this way continued to run it until the 
place was divided and each received his part 
of the heritage. 

Mr. Snow prospered as a farmer and in 
due time was in a situation to set up a do- 
mestic establishment of his own; accord- 
ingly, on the 3rd day of September, 1892, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah 
E. Goodin, daughter of J. D. Goodin, a well 
known citizen of Chester township. Mrs. 
Snow was born in Wells county, Indiana, 
January 21, 1873, and was an infant two 
weeks old when her mother died. She is a 
child by her father's first marriage and has 
two sisters living, viz: Elizabeth, wife of 
Thomas McGeath, and Nettie, wife of Dillon 
Hall, her only brother, Madison, dying some 
rears ago. By the second marriage Mr. 



Goodin had two children, Lawrence and 
Herman Goodin. 

For about eight months after his mar- 
riage yir. Snow lived on the home farm and 
during the succeeding year rented the Wil- 
son place in Chester township, which he 
cultivated with a fair measure of success 
until again taking up his residence on the 
old fam'ily homestead. He has brought his 
share of the farm to a high state of tillage, 
devotes his attention to general agriculture 
and by industry and successful management 
has accumulated a sufficiency of this world's 
goods to place him in very comfortable cir- 
cumstances. As a breeder of live stock, es- 
pecially Galloway cattle, he has materially in- 
creased his income, as he raises for the 
market nearly every year quite a number of 
these animals and always receives for them 
the highest price which the best grade of 
cattle commands. 

Mr. Snow has voted the Democratic 
ticket ever since old enough to cast a ballot, 
but he cannot be called a politician, never 
stepping aside from his chosen calling to 
take a very active interest in party affairs. 
He is a gentleman of quiet, unassuming de- 
meanor, attends strictly to his own business 
and wherever known has always been un- 
assailable. Honest in all of his dealings and 
exceedingly sociable in his relations with his 
fellow men, he is esteemed an excellent 
neighbor and a loyal friend, and as a citizen 
no one stands higher or discharges his duty 
in a more praiseworthy manner. Mr. Snow 
is an intelligent gentleman and in matters of 
business is characterized by soundness of 
judgment which makes his opinions and ad- 
vice valuable to those who ask for them. 
Mrs. Snow is a consistent member of the 
Christian church ; while not identified with 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'\NA. 



303 



any religious organization himself, Mr. 
Snow has profound respect for sacred things 
and to the extent of his ability contributed 
of his means for the moral and spiritual ad- 
vancement of his kind. He is a liberal pro- 
vider for his family, believes in using the 
good things of this world and to this end has 
supplied his home with many of the con- 
veniences and comforts which make rural 
life pleasant and desirable. Mr. and Mrs. 
Snow have one child, Vertner A., who was 
born on the 6th day of November, 1S94. 



EDWARD TERHUNE. 

Edward Terhune is a son of Garrett and 
Mary A. Terhune and was born in Miami 
county, Lidiana, January 11, 1854. He at- 
tended the common school in district No. 4, 
Chester township. Wells county, Indiana, 
until he was eighteen years of age, after 
which he remained with his father working 
for his board and clothes until he was 
twenty-one. He then continued to live with 
his father, working by the month for about 
five years. He spent some time in Illinois 
and in 1878 was in the state of Missouri. 
June 12, 1879, he was married to Ellen Mc- 
Cullick, a daughter of Henry, Sr., and Su- 
san (Truby) McCullick. and who was born 
August 29, 1858. The father, Henry, Sr., 
was a native of Virginia and the mother of 
the state of Ohio, and they were among the 
first settlers of Wells county, Indiana. Af- 
ter his marriage the subject remained at 
home for one year, and then, in the fall of 
1880, settled on the farm where he now 
lives. Then the land was all in the woods, 
but has now about sixty-five acres of cleared 



land. His farm is in the oil field and con- 
tains nine very good wells. He is a general 
stock farmer and breeder, principally of Po- 
land China hogs and shorthorn cattle. He 
has been on the farm where he now lives 
since he first settled on it and has devoted 
his time wholly to his farming interests. He 
is the father of eight children, seven of 
whom are living, viz : Edith, born August 
13. 1879, married James M. Mitchell, now a 
resident of Chester township. Wells county ; 
Charlie, born March 21, 188 1, died Febru- 
ary 26. 1899; Clayton, born December 22, 
1882, at home with his parents; William O., 
born November i, 1884; Henry, born Aug- 
ust 17, 1886; Bertha, born July 27, 1889; 
Edward R., born December 21, 1893, and 
Grace, born January 31, 1900. 

The subject is the owner of eighty 
acres of fine farming land and a pleasant 
country home, where he resides surrounded 
by all the comforts attending successful 
farm life. His wife is connected with the 
Disciples church, to which he is a liberal con- 
tributor. He is a member of the Mt. Zion 
Lodge No. 684. I. O. O. F.. also of Oil City 
Encampment No. 182, at Montpelier, Indi- 
ana. He with his wife also belong to Para- 
dise Rebekah Lodge No. 83. at Blufifton, 
Indiana. He has passed through all the 
chairs of the subordinate lodge and has twice 
been a representative to the grand lodge. 
Mr. Terhune has been a Republican all his 
life and is an active party worker in all 
campaigns, national, state and county. The 
subject of this sketch is a worthy represent- 
ative of that class who stand midway as it 
were between the hardy pioneers, who first 
broke the primeval solitude of our virgin 
forest with intent to found homes for them- 
selves and posterity in its vast areas, and the 



304 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



present generation who are so abundantly 
reaping the fruits of their labors — a class 
who in their half century of existence have 
ably supplemented the labors of their prede- 
cessors by a continuation of the reclamation 
of the remaining tracts of forest land, which 
stood as mute witnesses of the unfinished 
labor of a passing generation and an invita- 
tion to the ambitious and energetic of their 
sons to carve out for themselves homes be- 
side those of their sires. After availing him- 
self of the common schools, the subject set- 
tled on land in the woods and by his own 
efforts has builded a home which is an 
honor to himself and a credit to his vicinage. 
In doing this he has also found time to take 
an active and intelligent interest in public 
affairs and a participation in the social amen- 
ities as exemplified in the fraternal orders 
of his locality. He is an active and intelli- 
gent citizen, possessing the confidence of his 
neighbors and with an aptitude for the trans- 
action of public business. All honor to the 
class of whom Edward Terhune is a worthy 
representative. 



GEORGE W. CAPS. 

It is a fact patent to all that the United 
States can boast of no better or more law- 
abiding class of citizens than the great 
riumber of Germans who have found homes 
within her borders. Though holding dear 
a!id sacred the beloved fatherland, they are 
none the less devoted to the fair country of 
their adoption and should necessity require 
it would be willing to go forth to battle for 
the maintenance of its institutions. Among 
this large and highly respected class is the 



subject of this sketch, who for a number of 
years has taken precedence as one of the lead- 
ing citizens of Harrison township, \\'ells 
county, [ndiana. 

George W. Caps is the son of Christo- 
pher and Edna (Wertenberger) Caps and 
was born at Newsteadt, near Darmstadt, 
Germany, on the 13th of July, 1825. On the 
maternal side the subject is descended from 
.several families of France who, because of 
religious persecution, were dri\-en from that 
country and settled in Germany. The par- 
ents of the subject remained in the father- 
land all their lives and there reared a family 
of six children, of whom George W. was 
the youngest. The latter was reared in his 
native land and learned the trade of a bar- 
ber. In May, 1.854, becoming convinced 
that larger opportunities awaited him in the 
new world, he emigrated thither and upon 
landing in New York city at once went to 
work at his trade, at which he continued for 
a short time. Subsequently he came to 
\\^ens county and worked at tlie blacksmith 
trade, being in the employ of his brother for 
some time. He was energetic and ambitious 
and when out of regular employment worked 
at anything he could find to do. For a while 
he worked at common labor and then for 
some years was a renter. He went to Allen 
county and for some time carried on farm- 
ing operations in connection with his 
brother. In 1878 he. returned to Wells 
county and purchased the farm on which he 
now resides and has continued since to oper- 
ate it with success and financial profit. 
When he obtained the land it was cleared, 
but he has erected the present comfortable 
and commodious buildings and has other- 
wise in many ways improved the place, until 
it now stands as one of the best farms for 




MRS. GEORGE L. CAPS. 




GEORGE L. CAPS. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



305 



its size in the township. He has always 
been a hard-working man, has e.xercised 
sound judgment in the management of his 
business, afYairs and has been able to save 
of his means so that today he is considered 
fairly well ofif. 

In 1855 Mr. Caps was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mary E. Marks, a native 
also of Germany, and to this union were 
born nine children, of whom eight still sur- 
vive, as follows : John E., Rine, Tilla, Lydia, 
William, Dora, John C, George L. P., 
Amos died in infancy. Of these children, 
the following facts are noted : John E., a 
resident of Kansas City, Missouri, is, in com- 
pany W'ith three brothers, Rine, W^illiam and 
John C, engaged in the manufacture of 
printers' special machinery. He married 
Miss Myrtle Boger and is the father of one 
son, Joseph E. He also has two daughters 
by a previous marriage, Maud and Hortense. 
Rine, of Kansas City, married Miss Bertha 
Tusteron and they have two children, 
Arthur and Genevieve. Lydia is the w'lie of 
F. W. Paulsen, of Ft. \Vayne, who is con- 
nected with the Western Gas Company, and 
they are the parents of three children : Har- 
old, Freddie and Arthur E. William, a 
resident of Kansas City, wedded Miss Alice 
Taylor and by her has two children, Donald 
and Thelma. John C, of Kansas City, who 
married Miss Florence Fowler, has one son. 
Dean. Tilla was the wife of Moses Sawyer, 
deceased, and has one son, William Martin. 
Dora is the widow of John Ratlifif and the 
mother of three daughters, Alice, Ina and 
Evelyn. George L. is mentioned at length 
further on in this review. Religiously 
George W. Caps has for many years been a 
member of the German Reformed church 
and since residing in this country has affili- 



ated with the Democratic party in poli- 
tics. He received a thorough education in 
his native tongue and is well read and 
thoroughly informed on all the leading ques- 
tions of the day, taking at all times a keen 
interest in all things afifecting the best inter- 
ests of the community or nation. 

George L. Caps, son of the gentleman 
whose name forms the caption of this article, 
was reared upon the home place and in the 
common school received a fair education. 
He was early taught the secrets of success- 
ful agriculture and all his life has remained 
at home. He is now operating the farm and 
by the exercise of sound judgment, wise 
management and a thorough understanding 
of the advanced methods of agriculture has 
achieved a pronounced success in his calling. 
He is well known among the people of Har- 
rison township and has won for himself a 
legion of warm personal friends who es- 
teem him for his personal worth. 

For a helpmate on life's journey Mr. 
Caps chose Miss Louisa Linn, the daughter 
of Levi and Caroline Linn, and to them ha\-e 
been born two daughters, Gladys and Helen. 
In politics he is a firm and uncompromis- 
ing Democrat, ready at all times to defend 
his honest convictions on all matters afifect- 
ing the public welfare. Religiously he is a 
faithful and consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, belonging to 
the congregation at Bethel. He is at pres- 
ent one of the trustees of his church and at 
the time of the erection of the present hand- 
some brick structure he took an active inter- 
est in its building and was one of the most 
liberal contributors towards its erection. He 
has served as superintendent of the Sunday 
school and in many other ways has shown a 
keen interest in the success of the various 



3o6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



church activities. His methods are in keep- 
ing with tlie progressive spirit of the twen- 
tieth century and his present prosperity is a 
monument to his thrift and well-directed 
efforts. He is a man of broad humanitarian 
principles, of earnest purpose and upright 
life, is widely known and is esteemed by all 
for his genuine worth. 



EDGAR C. WILLIAMS. 

Prominent among the successful farm- 
ers and stock raisers of Wells county is Ed- 
gar C. Williams, who was born in the town- 
ship of Nottingham on the loth day of Feb- 
ruary, 1862. His father was Thomas Wil- 
liams, a native of West Virginia, and his 
mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary 
A. Taylor, was born in Old Virginia. These 
parents were taken to Ohio when quite 
young and grew to maturity in that state, 
marrying near the town of Bell Brook, 
Warren county. There Thomas Williams 
engaged in farming, but three years after his 
marriage moved to Wells county. Indiana, 
settling in March, 1856, on the farm now 
owned and occupied by the subject. His 
original purchase was w'holly timber land 
and when he reached the site of liis future 
home the snow lay twenty inches deep on the 
ground and a more gloomy and uninviting 
prospect than that which greeted the new 
comers would be difficult to imagine. He 
selected his place some time previous to the 
above date and erected thereon a log cabin, 
eighteen by twenty-four feet in size, the floor 
of which consisted of rough boards made 
with a whip-saw. Mr. Williams and fam- 
ily occupied this humble dwelling for three 



years, during which time he cleared a good- 
ly portion of his land besides making a num- 
ber of other improvements. At the expira- 
tion of the third year he changed his abode 
to what is known as the Whiteman farm, 
consisting of four hundred acres which he 
rented during the ten years following, re- 
turning at the end of that time to his own 
place where he continued to reside until his 
death, on the 15th day of July, 1897, at the 
age of seventy-nine. Mrs. Williams preced- 
ed her husband to the silent land by nearly 
twenty years, departing this life on the 15th 
of June, 1877, when fifty-four years old. 
Seven children were born to this excellent 
couple, three of whom are living at this time, 
namely : John, a farmer and stock raiser of 
Nottingham township; James F., also a resi- 
dent of Nottingham township, and Edgar, 
whose name introduces this review. The 
deceased members of the family were Eliza, 
wife of Solomon Shoemaker, Thomas C. 
and Theodore, twins, and Eber. 

The early life of Edgar C. Williams was 
similar in most respects to that of the general 
run of country boys, having been devoted to 
labor in the woods and fields in the summer 
time and to study in the district schools 
of winter seasons. His first educational ex- 
experience was in the school at Domestic, 
which he attended at intervals until his 
twentieth 3rear, and it is but just to state that 
he made commendable progress and became 
a good practical scholar. Reared on the, 
farm, he early learned the equally, if not 
more valuable, lessons of industry, thrift 
and self-reliance, so that before attaining his 
majority he found himself in a situation to 
support and properly care for a companion 
on life's journey. On the 25th day of Feb- 
ruary, 1882, he was joined in wedlock with 



WELLS COUNTY, nNDL\NA. 



307 



Miss Susannali Sa\v}-er, a native of Xotting- 
ham townsliip and daughter of Beniville and 
Sarah ( Reiff ) Sawyer, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania who came to Wells county about the 
year 1865. After his marriage Mr. Wil- 
liams rented the home farm, which he culti- 
vated with his father's assistance until the 
latter's death. He received two-thirds of 
the proceeds of the place and made a home 
for his father as long as he lived, looking 
cnrefully after his interests and ministering 
to his necessities and comfort with the most 
earnest and loving consideration. 

}ilr. ^^'illiams now owns eighty-five 
acres of the old homestead which he has 
brought to a successful state of tillage, and 
since taking possession of the same he has 
devoted his time and attention to agriculture 
and stock raising with handsome financial 
results. He raises fine varieties of short- 
horn cattle and the Poland China breed of 
swine and of recent years has given con- 
siderable attention to thoroughbred Shrop- 
shire sheep, which he raises and sells solely 
for breeding purposes. His reputation as a 
sheep raiser is second to that of no other 
stock raiser in the county and such is the 
high repute of his animals that there is al- 
ways a much larger demand for them than 
he can possibly supply. As a general farm- 
er he easily ranks with the most enterprising 
and successful men of his part of the county, 
as the condition of his buildings, fences, 
finely cultivated fields and other accessories 
abundantly attest. 

]\Ir. Williams has not failed to reap his 
share of the benefits resulting from the dis- 
covery of oil in this part of Lidiana; his 
farm lies in one of the best producing fields 
of the county and from the six wells which 
have been drilled thereon he receives no in- 



considerable part of his income. He is deep- 
ly interested in this large and growing indus- 
try and hopes, with every reason of fulfill- 
ment, for still greater financial returns at 
no distant day. 

Mr. Williams is a progressive, wide- 
awake man of the times, and takes a pardon- 
able pride in the advancement of his town- 
ship and county along agricultural and in- 
dustrial lines. He is an excellent neighbor 
and a praiseworthy citizen, assists to the ex- 
tent of his ability all enterprises having for 
their object the moral and social welfare of 
his community and is invariably found on 
the right side of every question or issue of 
any public moment. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican on state and national issues, but when it 
comes to matters of a purely local nature he 
generally votes for the man instead of obey- 
ing the dictates of party leadership. Mr. 
Williams is a firm believer in the revealed 
religion of the Bible and wishes to 
be known simply as a Christian or Dis- 
ciple. Firmly convinced that the sacred 
scriptures are sufficient as a rule of faith and 
practice without the aid of man-made creeds 
or statements of doctrine, he united with the 
Christian church and is now one of the most 
active and influential members of the congre- 
gation worshiping at the village of Domes- 
tic. He has served as deacon for a number 
of years and is an ardent worker in the Sun- 
day school, where his services have been 
utilized both as teacher and ofificial. He has 
also held the position of trustee ever since 
the present house of worship was erected 
and in this as in other capacities proves his 
value and efficiency as a loyal disciple of 
the Christ. 

Mr. and Mrs. Williams are tJie parents 
of one child, a daughter bv the name of 



3o8 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Amanda, who was born December 15, 1883 ; 
she is now the wife of Peter Coffman and the 
mother of two children, Leona P. and Len- 
ora. Mr. Coffman is a prosperous farmer 
and at tlie present time manages his father- 
in-law's place. Mrs. Williams was born in 
Nottingham township on the 2nd day of No- 
vember, 1862. and is one of the eight chil- 
dren comprising the family of Beniville and 
Sarah Sawyer, to whom reference is made 
in a preceding paragraph. The names of 
her brothers and sisters are as follows : 
Emeline, wife of Jerry French ; George ; 
John; Amanda, wife of Benjamin Green; 
David, Noah, and Eliza, now Mrs. Edward 
Baker. Mrs. and Mr. Sawyer moved from 
Wells county to Kansas in 1885 and after 
living four years in that state changed their 
residence to Carthage, Missouri ; where Mr. 
Sawyer spent the remainder of his days and 
where his widow still resides. 



ALBERT E. TERHUXE. 

\\'ells county is proud to number among 
its enterprising farmers and progressive 
men of affairs the' well known and highly 
esteemed gentleman to a brief review of 
whose life and achievements the reader's at- 
tention is here directed. Albert E. Ter- 
hune is a native of Miami county, Indiana, 
and the son of Garrett and Mary Ann 
(Davison) Terhune, the father born in 
Kentucky and the mother in the state of 
Pennsylvania. The maiden name of Mrs. 
Terhune was Davison. She was brought to 
Indiana when young, as was also Mr. Ter- 
hune, and their marriage was solemnized a 
number of years ago in the county of Wells. 



Subsequently they removed to Miami county 
and after living for some time in that part 
of the state, returned to Wells and located 
on the place now owned by William Ter- 
hune. where they spent the remainder of 
their lives, Mrs. Terhune dying November 
2-/, 1900, and her husband on the 23rd of 
April, 1898. They reared a family of five 
children, all but one still living, the subject 
of this sketch being the first born ; the others 
are Edward, a farmer of Chester township, 
this county: Elizabeth, the wife of Peter 
Speece, of W'ells county ; Alice, deceased, 
was the wife of Robert Murray, and Wil- 
liam, who, as stated above, owns and culti- 
vates the family homestead in Chester town- 
ship. 

Albert E. Terhune was born on the 22nd 
day of July, 185 1. in ]\Iiami county, Indiana, 
and at the age of nine years was taken by 
his parents to Illinois. After spending two 
and a half years in that state, the family re- 
turned to Indiana and settled on a farm 
near McCullick Ford, Wells county, and it 
was on this place that the subject grew from 
youth to young manhood. Mr. Terhune's 
first educational experience was in Miami 
county and later he attended three terms of 
school in the state of Illinois. After mov- 
ing to Wells county he continued his 
studies in the winter time until about twenty 
years old, attending his last term at the Five 
Point school house in Chester township. On 
attaining his majority Mr. Terhune worked 
as a farm hand during the greater part of 
one year and then returned home for the 
purpose of looking after his parents' inter- 
ests. He remained with his father until 
about twenty-five years of age, when he took 
to himself a companion and helpmeet in the 
person of Miss Susan Jones, the ceremony 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



309 



by which the two were made husband and 
wife being solemnized on the 28th day of 
December, 1876., Airs. Terhune was born 
in Wells county, August 8, 1858, the daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Sarah (Huffman) Jones, 
natives of Ohio and early settlers of Jack- 
son township, this county, where they are 
still living. Isaac Jones came to Indiana 
when Wells county was a wilderness and 
took an active part in the material de\'elop- 
ment of the country; he reared a family of 
ten children, whose names are as follows : 
Susan, wife of the subject of this sketch; 
Alary, wife of Ira Brown; Daniel; Eliza, 
now Airs. Jacob Sills ; Alary C. married W. 
O. Terhune; Nora, wife of Charles Stinson; 
Amy, wife of O. F. Wliite; Ella, who mar- 
ried J. A. Alespaugh, and Alinnie, who be- 
came the wife of Willard Grover. 

Immediately following his marriage. Air. 
Terhune settled on a part of his father's 
place and during the succeeding three years 
followed agricultural pursuits there with 
gratifying results, at the expiration of that 
period moving to the Shull place, where he 
lived about the same length of time. He 
then cleared up a tract of wood and swamp 
land in Chester tow'nship on which no im- 
pro\-ements worth mentioning had been 
made and addressed himself to the task of 
clearing away the timber and draining the 
parts too wet for tillage. To redeem this 
land and transform it into one of the finest 
and most productive farms in Chester town- 
ship required a prodigious amount of hard 
labor, but in due time the forest disappeared 
and what was originally a wilderness of 
miry swamp and marsh is now the richest of 
black loam soil, producing abundantly ail the 
grain and vegetable crops grown in this lati- 
tude. Air. Terhune has good substantial 



buildings on his place, fine fences and every- 
thing pertaining to the premises indicating 
the home of an intelligent, progressive far- 
iuer who keeps in touch with modern agri- 
cultural methods. 

In addition to the income from his crops 
and the fine grades of live stock which he 
raises. Air. Terhune realizes considerable 
money each year from the four producing 
oil wells on his farm, his place lying in one 
of the richest oil districts of Indiana. In all 
that constitutes the enterprising, up-to-date 
farmer, the true and loyal citizen, the sub- 
ject of this review is the peer of any resident 
of the county : he maintains an abiding in- 
terest in whatever concerns the welfare of 
the community, takes an active part in its 
material and moral development and is ever 
ready to lend his influence or aid in a 
more substantial way any movements with 
these objects in view. He is a member of 
Odd Fellows Lodge No. 684 at Alt. Zion, 
having filled all the chairs in the same, be- 
sides representing the organization in the 
grand lodge during the session of 1898. In 
politics he has always been a Republican and 
in religion his belief is in accord with the 
plain, simple teachings of the Christian 
church. He and wife have been identified 
with this communion for a number of years 
and are among the most zealous members of 
the congregation to which they belong. 

Air. and Airs. Terhune have had twelve 
children, of whom nine are living at this 
time, namely: Cora, born June 15, 1879, is 
the wife of Irvin West and the mother of 
one child, Ota; Isaac, whose birth occurred 
August 10. 1881, lives on the home farm: 
Delia was born Alarcli 10, 1883, married 
James Hunnicutt and has one daughter. 
Ethel N. ; Ada A. was born October 6, 188 s. 



3IO 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and is the wife of George C. Nefif; Daniel 
E. was born on the 8th day of April, 1887; 
Lela E., May 20, 1890; Ethel, March 15, 
1892; Effie G., August 28, 1892; Ora, born 
on the 1st of April, 1894. and Gladys, the 
bab}", aged four years. The names of those 
deceased are Homer, born August 12, 1888, 
died June 13, 1899; Nora H., born Febru- 
ary 12, 1896, and died September 14, 1897. 



LOUIS A. NUTTER. 

One of the prosperous and steadily 
thriving farmers of Wells county, Indiana, 
is Louis A. Nutter, who is also largely en- 
gaged in stock breeding, especially hogs. 
Mr. Nutter was born in Hocking county, 
Ohio, December 9, 1848, and is a son of 
Levi and Sarah A. (Martin) Nutter. 

Levi Nutter, a native of Virginia, was a 
boy when he came to the Buckeye state with 
his widowed mother, and there he grew to 
manhood and met and married Miss Sarah 
A., daughter of Patrick and Cynthia Martin, 
and reared near Canton. Levi went to 
housekeeping on a farm in Hocking county, 
where he lived about ten years, and then 
came to Wells county, Indiana, and entered 
eighty acres of land in Nottingham town- 
ship. Two years later he returned to Hock- 
ing county, where he passed the remainder 
of his life, and at his death left his widow 
witli nine children, named as follows: Cyn- 
thia A., a widow now residing in Notting- 
ham township; Margaret, wife of Thomas 
Dyson, of Athens county, Ohio : Melissa, 
wife of George Dyson, of Nottingham 
township. Wells county, Indiana; Louis A., 
the subject proper of this sketch : Lydia, 



wife of Elijah Dyson, of Athens county, 
Ohio; Levi D., a resident of Reiffsburg, In- 
diana; Charles M., deceased; Calista Slo- 
cum, of Grant county, Indiana, and Jane, 
wife of Robert Kennedy, of Dixonton, Ohio. 

Louis A. Nutter attended the public 
schools and lived with his father until twen- 
ty-one years old and then began coal mining, 
at which he worked eleven years, during 
which period he married and located in 
Hocking county, Ohio. While mining he 
accumulated sufficient money to enable him 
to purchase a tract of eighty acres of farm-" 
ing land in Nottingham township, Wells 
county, Indiana, a portion of which was 
cleared. This land had belonged to an 
uncle, from whom Mr. Nutter purchased it, 
but at the death of this uncle it was dis- 
covered that the title was clouded and he 
lost his land, which is now owned l)y the 
Rhea family. Mr. Nutter, however, filed a 
claim against the estate of William Nutter 
and was awarded the eighty-acre tract on 
which he now lix'es, and to which he has 
since added twenty acres and now owns one 
hundred acres, all in one body. Of this 
property he took possession in 1881, and in 
1890 erected a very handsome dwelling" and 
an excellent barn in 1901. He gives a great 
deal of his attention to the breeding of 
Duroc hogs and red polled cattle, as well as 
Oxford Down sheep, and feeds his corn 
mostly to his hogs. 

Louis A. Nutter was united in marriage 
in Hocking county, Ohio, June 11, 1874, 
with Miss Louisa Burgess, who was born in 
Wells county, Indiana, August 20, 1856, and 
is a daughter of Henson and Catherine 
(Haines) Burgess, the latter deceased. The 
Burgess family were old settlers of Adams 
countv, Ohio, but Henson is now a resident 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



311 



of Hocking count}-. At the time they lo- 
cated in Wells county, Indiana, Bluffton 
contained one or two houses only, and Mr. 
Burgess maintained himself .and family as 
a professional deer hunter. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Burgess were born ten children, viz : 
Mary, Gabe, Richard (deceased), John (de- 
ceased), Philemon, Mark, Emanuel, George, 
Lavina and Louisa (now Mrs. Nutter). 
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nutter 
have been born seven children, viz : Charles, 
deceased; Stella M., married to Allen 
Spoeheger, and now residing in Harrison 
township; Brenton F., at home; Bertram, 
deceased; Gardner, deceased; Alva H. and 
Luta V. The parents are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church at Reiffsburg 
and Mr. Nutter is a member of Lodge No. 
752, I. O. O. F., at Poneto, in which he 
was initiated in 1873. He has filled all the 
chairs of his lodge and has twice represent- 
ed it in the grand lodge. In politics ^Ir. 
Nutter is a Democrat and takes an active 
part in the work of his party locally, and in 
society circles he and wife stand very high. 



JOHN A. ALSPACH. 

John A. Alspach first saw the light of 
day in Jackson township. Wells county. 
Indiana, March 10, 1869. He is a son of 
Daniel Alspach, a native of Perry county, 
Ohio, who came to Wells county with his 
parents, Amos and Elizabeth Alspach, na- 
tives of Ohio, when he was twenty-one years 
of age. Amos, the grandfather of the sub- 
ject, is still living at the ripe old age of 
eighty-five years. Daniel Alspach died May 
2, 1893. His wife, Henrietta, a daughter 



of Reason and Catherine Bevington, natives 
of Ohio, was born in Wells county and is 
still living. Daniel Alspach was the father 
of four children, all of whom are living ; 
John A., subject of this sketch; Asa B., an 
oil pumper in Jackson township; Orval, an 
oil pumper in Blackford county; Daniel A., 
at home. 

John A. Alspach attended the public 
schools in Jackson township until he was 
fifteen and remained with his father until 
he was twenty-one years of age. April 18, 
1 888, he was married to Sarah E. Jones, 
born in 1870, a daughter of Isaac and Sallie 
Jones, both of whom are yet living. After 
his marriage the subject settled on the Abi- 
gail Shadle farm in Chester township where 
he remained for one season, then locating 
on Daniel Jones" farm in Jackson town- 
ship, on which he remained for two years. 
He then moved on to Jane Bevington's farm 
in Jackson township which he cultivated for 
two years, when he removed to his mother's 
farm, remaining there until April, 1900. He 
then ga.\-e up farming and began as a pumper 
for the Ohio Oil Company on the G. Ter- 
hune lease. He is the father of five children, 
four of whom are still living: Delphos E., 
born May 2, 1890, died December 29, 1890; 
Fred H., born December 29, 1896; Ray- 
mond E., born January 3, 1898; Mabel D., 
born June 19, 1899, and Nelson D., born 
November 7, 1891. 

Politically Mr. Alspach is an ardent Re- 
publican, and during the campaign times, 
like a war horse, he "sniffs the battle from 
afar" and when the contest rages he is in his 
element and by his efforts for the success of 
his party does honor to his early teaching. 

The subject has the proud honor of 
being the son of a veteran of the Civil war. 



312 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



his father, Daniel Alspach, having enhsted 
soon after tlie l:)eginning of hostihties in that 
splendid fighting regiment, the Forty-sev- 
enth Indiana, and was connected with it all 
through its glorious history of fifty-two 
months of arduous service for our country. 
Like thousands of others, he contracted dis- 
abilities in the service and his constitution 
was shattered, from the effects of which he 
died of consumption. John A. Alspach is 
a representative of the class which consti- 
tutes the bone and sinew of the country. 
Educated in the common schools and inherit- 
ing from a patriotic sire a hardy constitution 
and an innate love of his country's institu- 
tions, he has the brawn and muscle to wrest. 
a livelihood either as a cultivator of the soil 
or as a member of the great army of work- 
ers in the industries of the country, coupled 
with the mental capacity and inclination to 
a participation in the political activities 
which shape and determine our civic status 
in the sisterhood of states. 



LOUIS G. LANCASTER. 

Weak and futile is the effort of parents 
of foreign birth to keep their children as 
zealously German, Scandinavian, Bohemian, 
Italian or other nationality as they them- 
selves are. The first generation that comes 
across the water herd to themselves and may 
influence to some extent the first generation 
born in America, but even the first genera- 
tion is as intensely American as the Daugh- 
ters of the Revolution. The average citi- 
zen of the L^nited States, tracing back his 
family history, is surprised to discover how 
much German, Irish, Scotch, English and 



other blood it takes to make one good 
American. Louis G. Lancaster, the subject 
of this sketch, is just such an American. 
He is a resident of Keystone, Chester town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, and in that 
township he was born on October 28, 1863, 
the son of Nathan and Mary (Starr) Lan- 
caster. 

The paternal grandparents of Louis G. 
Lancaster were John and Ruth (Shields) 
Lancaster. She was of Irish parentage and 
was born in Virginia. He was born near 
Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and was of 
English-Scotch ancestry, being, it is said, 
a descendant of the house of Lancaster 
which figured so prominently in English 
history, particularly during the wars of the 
Roses. In 1833 John and Ruth Lancaster 
settled in Grant count)-, Indiana, about 
where the soldiers' home is now located, the 
following year went to housekeeping, and 
in 1836 moved to a jxiint near where Van 
Buren now stands. In the fall of 1837 they 
settled in Wells county, purchasing the land 
which is now owned and occupied by Nathan 
Lancaster, father of the subject. In 1890 
John and Ruth Lancaster moved to Hart- 
ford City, and there resided until his death. 
Tune 29, 1900. His widow still lives, at the 
age of eighty-seven years, making her home 
with her daughter, Mrs. Miranda Cox. The 
subject had, a few years ago, his four grand- 
parents all living, the youngest of them 
being eighty-four years of age. 

Benjamin and Matilda (Popejoy) Starr, 
the maternal grandparents of Louis G. 
Lancaster, were Virginians Ijy birth, Init 
were among the earliest settlers of Welh 
county. He was born December 27, 1814, 
and died January 20, 1899; his wife was 
born December 6, 18 14, and died July 29, 




MRS. LOUIS LANCASTER 




LOUIS LANCASTER. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



313 



1898. From a ver}- small beginning they 
were quite prosperous and successful. The 
best years of their lives were spent in Wells 
county and there they remained until their 
deaths. 

Xathan Lancaster, father of Louis G.. 
was born in Van Buren township. Grant 
county, Indiana, October 25, 1836, and 
grew to manhood in Wells county. De- 
cember 18, 1862, he Avas united in marriage 
to Miss Mary Starr, a native of Wells 
county, born February 5. 1837. Their home 
was on a tract of land, eighty acres, which 
he purchased of his father, and they cleared 
it, improved it and made a farm of it, and 
this has been the home place ever since. They 
are now owners of five hundred and ninety 
acres of land, all in Chester township, of 
which two hundred and forty acres consti- 
tute the hi:me place. To Xathan and Mary 
(Starr) Lancaster seven children were born, 
viz : Louis G., the subject of this sketch ; 
Harvey B. received a liberal education and 
followed teaching for two years; Jennie L., 
wife of George A. Mason, a lawyer of Mont- 
pelier, Indiana, taught school a number of 
terms early in life ; John E. died at the age 
of twent}--six years; Matilda E. died at the 
age of seven years ; an infant died unnamed 
soon after birth; Orley L.. who still makes 
his home with his parents, is a teacher of 
much success and considerable prominence. 

Louis G. Lancaster grew to manhood in 
Chester township, W'ells county, attended 
the public schools until he was eighteen 
years of age and profited well by his oppor- 
tunities. He attended the normal four terms 
and studied under the instruction of Pro- 
fessors P. A. Allen, W. H. Ernst and 
Samuel McCrea. He began teaching at the 
age of eighteen and continued as an edu- 



cator for eight years. All those \-ears he 
was devoting what time he could spare from 
his duties in the school room to the assist- 
ance of his father on the farm. On July 
3, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Sarah S. Williams, who was born March 4, 
1864. She was a daughter of Andrew B. 
and Mary (Bugh) Williams, both natives 
of Ohio, and early settlers of Blackford 
county. Indiana. The mother, who was born 
September 24, 1834, died November 29. 
1874. when Mary, the daughter and wife of 
the subject, was only ten years of age, the 
fath.er. who was born October 6, 1822, dying 
on the 8th of October, 1881. They were the 
parents of ten children, viz : Henry, de- 
ceased ; Joseph resides in Blackford county ; 
Oliver is a resident of Blackford county; 
Jennie, wife of Scott Swartz, of Newton, 
Kansas ; Sarah, wife of the subject ; Andrew 
B., a resident of Chester township; Mary, 
the wife of Charles iMcGeath ; Emma, de- 
ceased ; James, deceased. 

After marriage the young couple went 
to housekeeping on his father's home place^ 
but remained there only one year. They 
then took up their abode at Montpelier. 
where he engaged in teaching, but subse- 
quently they moved to their present home. 
\\'hen this land was purchased by them it 
was wild, heavily timbered and wholly un- 
improved, but it is all cleared now, except- 
ing ten acres which is reserved for timber. 
On it Mr. Lancaster has dug all necessary 
ditches, built fences and the place is splen- 
didly cultivated. There are four producing 
oil wells on the place, yielding about a tank 
a month. 

Mr. and Mrs. Louis G. Lancaster are the 
parents of four children, viz ; ]\Iary Pearl. 
born April 6, 1889; Grace, born November 



314 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'\NA. 



15. 1892; and infant daughter who died un- 
named; an infant son, born May 20, 1902. 
The parents are members of the Friends 
church of Keystone, Indiana, and are active 
in church as well as in all other works. He 
is a member of and has filled all the chairs 
in Lodge No. 410, I. O. O. F., at Montpelier, 
having joined the order in 1883. In politics 
he is a Republican and is always sufficiently, 
interested in the success of his party to take 
part in the campaigns as they come around. 
He has served as delegate in many conven- 
tions, county, district and state, and has sel- 
dom faile"d to make his influence felt upon 
the proceedings. In 1900 he was commis- 
sioned a census taker and discharged the 
duties of the office with promptness and ef- 
ficiency. 

General farming and stock raising is 
the business which Mr. Lancaster follows. 
He always aims to keep sufficient stock on 
his premises to consume the crops, Poland 
China hogs, Shropshire sheep and shorthorn 
cattle being the breeds he prefers on his 
place. His personal property, at a fair valu- 
ation, amounts to not less than twelve 
hundred dollars. He is a man of bright in- 
tellect, acknowledged ability and, being still 
voung in years, gives promise of a future 
of which his relatives and friends will be 
proud. 



DAVID OCHSENRIDER. 

One of the thriving native-born farmers 
and successful educators of Wells county, 
Indiana, is David Ochsenrider, "who is just 
entering upon the prime of life. He was 
born November 15, 1854, on the farm which 
he now owns and occupies in Nottingham 



township, a son of Elias and Mary A. 
(Britegam) Ochsenrider, the former of 
whom was born in Berks county, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 14, 1825, and the latter also 
a native of the Keystone state. 

When Elias Ochsenrider was still a 
young man he sought a home further west, 
locating in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he 
met and married Miss Britegam. He was 
engaged in farming until about 1846, when 
he came to Indiana and bought eighty acres 
of land from the McClish Brothers in Not- 
tingham township. Wells county. Three 
houses had already been erected on this land, 
one of which was utilized as a school house, 
but there had been but three acres cleared 
off; however, Elias and his sons cleared up 
the whole place, with the exception of six 
acres on which a grove was left standing. 
On this new farm Mrs. Mary A. Ochsenrider 
passed the remainder of her life, and there 
Elias still resides at the age of seventy-seven 
years and is being filially cared for by his 
son David. 

To Elias and Mary A. Ochsenrider were 
horn nine children, namely : John H., a resi- 
dent of Nottingham township; William, 
living in Tazewell county, Illinois; Sarah 
A., deceased wife of Thomas Lyons, of 
Kansas ; Jacob, in Bluffton, Wells county, 
Indiana ; David ; Abraham, of Grant county, 
Indiana ; Emma, who was married to Joseph 
Reaser, but is now deceased; Lavina. who 
died at the age of twelve years, and a daugh- 
ter who died in infancy. 

David Ochsenrider was educated in the 
district schools of Nottingham township, 
\Vells county, primarily, and attended them 
until he was eighteen years of age, and then 
attended for two terms in the public schools 
of BlufYton. He then attended a normal 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



315 



school taught by Prof. Goodwin, a Baptist 
clergyman and the county superintendent of 
education, after which he taught two con- 
secutive terms at the home school in Not- 
tingham township, and the next year served 
as school trustee and while acting as trustee 
taught in Harrison township. During tiie 
summer months Mr. Ochsenrider worked on 
the farm, except for two summers, which 
he spent in Poneto, conducting an ice cream 
parlor and a barber shop. In the spring of 
1894 he taught his last term of school, and 
since then has devoted his time to farming 
and threshing. 

Mr. Ochsenrider was married April 28. 
1875, to Miss Sarah M. Foust, a native of 
Madison county, Indiana, born May 25, 
1856, and a daughter of Israel and Eliza- 
beth Foust, natives of Pennsylvania. After 
marriage Mr. Ochsenrider settled on the old 
home place, on which he has since lived with 
the exception of the two years spent in 
Poneto. To Mr. and Mrs. Ochsenrider have 
been born eleven children, to-wit : Elias, who 
married Lillie Leist and now resides in 
Montpelier, Indiana; William, who mar- 
ried Theress M. Kreps and resides on D. 
Ochsenrider's farm ; Mary, deceased ; 
Martha, at home ; Clara, also at home and a 
teacher in Nottingham township; Johnnie, 
deceased ; Levia, at home, as are also Lillie, 
Sherman, Dessie and Flossie. 

Mr. Ochsenrider is a member of Lodge 
No. 752, I. O. O. F., of Poneto, and in poli- 
tics is a Democrat. He has been honored by 
bis party by being elected constable; next, 
trustee of Nottingham township; in 1898 
he was appointed truant officer for one term, 
and was then elected county commissioner 
from district No. 3, for a term of three years, 
and has always lieen very popular with his 



party and with his people in general. As a 
commissioner he at present is exercising his 
influence with the board to induce it to erect 
an orphans' home for the county. 



ELI C. BIERIE. 



Versatility is said to be one of the first 
requisities of genius. Many a man has been 
considered versatile in one or more callings 
and hence laid claim to be considered a 
genius. The genius of Napoleon is gener- 
ally conceded. He was versatile, but his ver- 
satility was almost wholly confined to plan- 
ning military movements, the winning of 
the battles and the subjugation of those rul- 
ers who incurred his displeasure or did not 
readily yield obedience to his dictation. 
Phillips says of Napoleon, "He was through 
all his vicissitudes the same indomitable, in- 
flexible self — the man without a model and 
without a shadow." Of Oliver Goldsmith, 
the poet, historian and dramatist. Dr. John- 
son said : "He left no species of literature 
untouched and touched nothing that he did 
not adorn." There is no doubt that he was 
a genius, whose versatility was amply de- 
monstrated. 

But true genius, indeed a better and 
more unquestionable type of genius, may be 
and often is displayed in the humbler walks 
of life. The man who can turn his hand to 
almost any calling may be a genius, bvit of 
this class the man who makes a success of all 
things to which he turns bis hand is the real 
genius. Such a man is the subject of this 
.sketch, Eli C. Bierie, an honored and well 
respected citizen of Blufifton, Indiana. 
Though still comparatively young, during 



3i6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



his brief business career he has engaged in 
something Hke a dozen different hnes of 
business. He has also been a farmer, meat 
dealer, general merchant, postmaster, no- 
tary public, undertaker and minister. In 
each and all of these various lines those who 
know him best will testify that he not only 
acquitted himself most creditably, but that in 
the pursuit of each he demonstrated a fa- 
miliarity with the requirements that would 
require years of patient study from most 
men to acquire conception- of. Success in 
any calling is to make it remunerative. 
Measured by this standard, the success of 
Mr. Bierie in every line of business he has 
thus far undertaken is beyond cavil or dis- 
pute. 

Eli C. Bierie was born in Nottingham 
township. Wells county, Indiana, June 28, 
1867. He is the son of Christian and Anna 
(Sutter) Bierie. Christian Bierie was born 
June 2^, 1820, in Switzerland, and died 
November 10, 1899, near Domestic, Indiana, 
at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, 
four months and ten days. Mr. Bierie came 
to this country when but four years of age, 
his parents settling in Wayne county, Ohio, 
where he grew to manhood, and was mar- 
ried at the age of twenty-eight years to Anna 
Sutter. About this time he removed to In- 
diana and settled in Adams county. Later 
he removed to Wells county, where he was 
among the early settlers of the county. Sev- 
enteen years ago Mr. Bierie's companion was 
taken from him by death, after having 
brought up a family of fifteen children, six 
of whom have since died. Nine children 
remain, four daughters and fi\e sons. They 
are John, Anna, Abraham, Mary, Emanuel, 
Sarah. Susanna, Eli C. and Jacob. John re- 
sides on the old home place: Mary is the 



wife of Marion Shinn; Emanuel li\-es in 
Nottingham township. Wells county; Sarah 
is the wife of Earnest Heche, a carpenter 
and joiner at Bluffton ; Susanna is the wife 
of Fred Blocher and Jacob resides in Not- 
tingham township. All are prosperous and 
well-to-do citizens who are highly respected 
for their worth and integrity. There also 
survive twenty-one grandchildren and eight 
great-grandchildren. 

The opportunities for acquiring an edu- 
cation were not as plentiful awa)- back in 
the 'seventies here in Indiana as they are 
today. Eli C. Bierie attended the district 
schools of his township }-ear after year until 
he was sixteen, that comprising the full ex- 
tent of the education he received. At that 
time his services upon the farm were very 
much in demand. Reluctantly he relin- 
quished his books and turned to the mul- 
tiplicity of duties always waiting the busy 
hand of the industrious agriculturist. For 
the next four years he devoted his entire 
time to tJie work of the farm, pursuing his 
labors with that penetration, intelligence 
and good judgment that has characterized 
his work in all the various callings he has 
undertaken to pursue. 

October 28, 1887, Mr. Bierie was mar- 
ried to Miss Elizabeth Beeler, the daughter 
of Daniel and Elizabeth (Ashbaucher) 
Beeler and born April 30. 1870. The mother 
of Mrs. Bierie is dead, but her father still 
lives, one of the respected patriarchs of Har- 
rison township. Soon after their marriage 
Mr. Bierie and his bride settled in Linn 
Grove. \\'here for two years he ver}- suc- 
cessfully conducted a meat market. Con- 
sidering the place too circumscribed and his 
business not sufficiently abundant in oppor- 
tunities, the familv moved to Domestic 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



317 



wliere Mr. Bierie opened up a general store. 
In connection therewith he became post- 
master, was appointed notary pubhc, en- 
gaged in conveying, drafting contracts, writ- 
ing oil leases and such other work as is 
usually done in that particular line. Besides 
this, he was the undertaker of the locality. 

From away back in ante bellum da}s 
Wells county has been considered hopeless- 
ly Democratic. The result of each success- 
ive election was considered fully and com- 
pletely determined when the Democratic 
county convention had expressed its choice 
of candidates. Occasionally strifes, dissen- 
sions and soreness in the ranks of the op- 
position inspired a little hope in the breasts 
of the Republicans that they might elect at 
least a part of their county ticket, but the 
result was always the same — solidly Demo- 
cratic. In 1898, in casting about for some 
one to lead the forelorn hope of the Republi- 
cans as a candidate for county treasurer, 
the eyes of the party leaders were at once 
centered upon Eli C. Bierie, and after some 
persuasion he was indviced to accept the 
nomination. The canvass that followed was 
warm, even to the boiling point, but it re- 
sulted in the triumphant election of Mr. 
Bierie, the first Republican ever elected to 
that office in that county. His administra- 
tion of the office, like all of his other under- 
takings, was all that could be desired. Hav- 
ing disposed of his mercantile business on 
becoming a county official, he invested his 
funds in a well improved farm of one 
hundred acres of fine land, all under culti- 
vation except a sugar orchard of twelve 
acres that is so well cared for and managed 
that it is a delight to look upon. 

At the end of his term, when relieved of 
the cares, responsibilities and confinement of 



official life, he felt the necessity of outdoor 
exercise, hence he engaged for a time as a 
traveling salesman for Cline & Zimmer, ex- 
tensive implement dealers of Bluffton. In 
this vocation, also, success crowned his ef- 
forts, but being quite domestic in his tastes 
the days and nights spent away from home 
and family became very distasteful to him. 
After one season he gave up the business 
and moved his family to the farm, where 
they have taken up their abode and give at- 
tention to the rearing of pure bred stock. 
Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs are 
favorites with him. At present it is his in- 
tention to take up the undertaking business 
at his farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bierie are the parents of 
three bright, interesting little daughters: 
Orilla Pearl was born April 28, 1888 ; Glen- 
na Leona, April 18. 1890, and Florence 
Alice, February g. 1893. The family i? 
connected with the Alethodist Episcopal 
church, of which denomination Mr. Bierie 
was the local minister at Bluffton, but is 
now a member of Salem Evangelical 
church. He is also a member of the board 
of directors of the State Sunday School As- 
sociation, and district president of the asso- 
ciation for the counties of Wells, Adams, 
Huntington and Allen. He is an active 
member of Lodge No. 683, I. O. O. F.. of 
Linn Gro^'e, a member of Encampment No. 
114, of Bluffton and a zealous Knight of 
Pythias of the same place. He and his 
wife are members of the Rebekahs and she 
belongs to the Rathbone Sisters, of Bluffton. 
From 1900 to 1902 Mr. Bierie was presi- 
dent of the Wells County Sunday School As- 
sociation. 

From the foregoing it may readily be 
inferred that Eli C. Bierie is one of those 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



who lias lived and is living a life that may 
well be characterized as strenuous. The ar- 
dor with which he enters upon all of his 
undertakings bespeaks for each of them 
most gratifying success. Always ardent, 
never half hearted, when he once decides up- 
on the course to be pursued, there is no let- 
ting up or slowing down until the design 
has been fully and completely accomplished. 
The story of his life is a lesson to the youth 
of the land, a practical illustration of what 
may be accomplished by pluck, perseverance 
and energy, when properly directed and 
controlled by intelligent discernment. 

In connection with this sketch the fol- 
lowing extract referring to the life and death 
of Mrs. Elizabeth Beeler will be of undoubt- 
ed interest : 

Mrs. Elizabeth Beeler, nee Ashbaucher, wife of 
Daniel Beeler^, died at their home two and one-half 
miles south of Vera Cruz. For almost seven 
months she had suffered severely and during that 
time underwent an operation for an abscess, but 
found little relief. Her demise was due to a com- 
plication of diseases which finally developed into 
dropsy. 

Mrs. Beeler was born near Berne, Switzerland, 
October 18, 1842, and in 1855, when thirteen years 
old, came with her parents to America. They 
first settled in Wayne county, Ohio, and moved 
to Adams county, Indiana, in 1866. In 1868 she 
was united in marriage to Daniel Beeler and lived 
on their farm, near Kreps, until her death. T« 
this union were born seven daughters and one 
son, Mesdames Minerva Studabaker, Ida Studa- 
baker, Elizabeth Bierie, Mary Boyd, and Nancy 
Huffman, Misses Emma and Lillie Beeler, and 
Edward Beeler. all of whom, with the husband, 
remain to mourn her departure. The Ashbaucher 
bVothers of this city are brothers of {he de- 
ceased. She leaves six brothers, three sisters, 
nine grandchildren and a large number of rela- 
tives and friends. Her father and mother have 
preceded her to the spirit land. When but a 
girl she united with the Reformed church in 
Wayne county, Ohio, and later transferred her 
membership to the First Reformed church of Vera 



Cruz, and remained a faithful member until her 
death. She loved her church as she loved her 
home. 

Mrs. Beeler endured her long sickness with 
great patience and fortitude and was never heard 
to complain during her most intense suffering. 
A short time before her death she called her family 
to her side and bade each good-bye, imprinting 
the kiss of love and affection of a wife and mother 
on the lips of each. The children were asked to 
take good care of their father and live right so 
that they might meet her in the heavenly world. 
Soon afterward she sank into unconsciousness and 
peacefully passed to her rest in heaven. As a 
neighbor she was beloved by all who knew her, 
being at all times in perfect peace and harmony 
with them. No one knew her but to love her 
and she loved her family as her own life. 



PETER SCHOTT. 



The war of the Rebellion left its impress 
deep and lasting upon the life of many a 
youth who, when it broke out, was }-et in 
his teens. The call to arms found tens of 
thousands only too ready to respond. For 
the first time in their lives they found them- 
selves no longer restrained by parental con- 
trol. Rigid military discipline held them in 
check to some extent, but it did not prevent 
many from contracting dissolute and profli- 
gate habits, of which some have not been 
able to divest themselves even unto this day. 
Few. indeed, were as fortunate in this as 
Peter Schott, now of Domestic, Indiana, who 
entered the service when only nineteen years 
of age and who followed the fortunes of war 
until peace once more reigned throughout 
the land. 

George and Margaretta (Bowman) 
Schott were the parents of Peter Schott, the 
subject of this sketch. They were natives of 
Byron, Germany, but emigrated to America 



W'ELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



319 



early in life and located in New York city, 
where they were married. Soon after they 
moved to Logan county, Ohio, where their 
children were born and where they con- 
tinued to reside until they took up their 
permanent residence in Lorain county. Sep- 
tember 20, 1844, the eyes of Peter Schott 
first looked upon the light of day. At the 
new home of his parents in Lorain county 
he grew to manhood, attending the public 
schools of the locality and acquiring a fair 
education in all of the common school 
branches then taught. In December. 1863, 
he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volun- 
teers, and served faithfully until the close 
of the rebellion. Occasional attacks of in- 
flammatory rheumatism, which come around 
with recurring frequence as age advances, 
are the only ill-effects he experiences of the 
service he rendered his country during the 
days of her peril, when her destiny was 
poised, as it were, in a balance. 

For the first three years after leaving the 
L'nited States service Peter Schott occupied 
himself with the usual labors on the father's 
farm. Then, in company with his brother 
George, who had been a soldier in the same 
regiment, he located on a tract of land in the 
dense woods of Wells county, each taking 
eighty of the one hundred and sixty acres 
comprising the tract. While George attend- 
ed to the clearing, improving and cultivating 
of the land, Peter devoted himself to car- 
pentering and building, a calling in whicli 
he had become skilled during and after the 
war, his earnings furnishing the brothers 
with the means necessary to procure pro- 
visions and other supplies. By this arrange- 
ment the land was gradually cleared, ditch- 
ed, fenced and greath^ enhanced in value. 



October 25, 1868, Peter Schott was 
united in marriage to ]\Iartha Watson, who 
was born April 25, 1847. She is the daugh- 
ter of John M. and Eleanor (Winfield) 
Watson. They are natives of Ohio, but 
mioved to Wells county, Indiana, when their 
daughter Martha was only a year old, 
settling upon a farm on which their son 
John now resides. Eleven children were 
born to John M. and Eleanor Watson, viz : 
Mary J., William, Lawrence, Mark, Sarah 
E., Martha Ann, John R., Thomas, George, 
Amanda, Elizabeth and John. Of these, 
Mary J., William, Sarah E.. John R. and 
Thomas are dead. 

At the time of their marriage only about 
twelve acres of the eighty-acre tract of land 
which they owned was cleared. A log cabin, 
eighteen by twenty-four feet, was built, a 
short distance south of the one owned by 
his brother George. Here the young peo- 
ple took up their abode and here they ex- 
perienced all of the trials and hardships, 
mingled with the joys and happiness that 
comes into the lives of all youthful pioneers. 
About this time the brothers began to re- 
alize the possibilities for profit there might 
be in a good saw-mill, well operated. The 
shameful waste of fine timber, which was 
daily being consumed by fire in the clearings, 
first diverted their attention in this direc- 
tion and soon they interested their brother 
John in the matter. They pooled their is- 
sues with the result that within a short time 
they were operating a mill of good capacity 
and realizing their most sanguine expecta- 
tions as to the matter of profit. Soon after- 
ward Peter and George purchased the inter- 
est of John in the mill and continued to oper- 
ate it until about a year ago. when the}- sus- 
pended operations, though they are still the 



320 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



owners of the machinery. While engaged 
in operating the mill Peter \vas obliged to 
keep hired help on the farm, but in due time 
the necessity for that was obviated, as his 
son had grown and was able to conduct the 
affairs of the farm far more satisfactorily 
than it ever was done by hired help. 

Of the original eighty acres in the farm 
all is now cleared land with the exception 
of about ten acres. Upon this tract there 
are now ten producing oil wells; eight were 
drilled by Mr. Schott and his sons, so that 
they control the entire output, from which 
they realize five hundred dollars per month. 
At one time the income from them ran up- 
wards of seven hundred dollars per month. 
With such an income, to say nothing of that 
which is realized from several other lines of 
business in which Mr. Schott is engaged, 
it would appear that he ought to experience 
but little difficulty in "keeping the wolf from 
the door." 

Li 1882 Mr. Schott erected a large and 
commodious barn upon his farm, which is 
well adapted to the line of farming in which 
he is engaged, general stock raising. A 
splendid home was erected on the farm in 
1889, much of the work on both house and 
barn being done by Mr. Schott himself. He 
is the father of two children, John, born 
July 13, 1871, who is married to Sarah 
Terrell, lives on his father's farm and is di- 
rectly interested in all the business afifairs ; 
Amanda E., who was born May 8. 1875. 
But two grandchildren, Nattia Lurene and 
Mildred Liez, have been born to 'Slv. and 
Mrs. Schott. 

Although never aspiring to political 
preferment, Mr. Schott takes much interest 
in politics. He is a loyal Republican — one 
of those who believes in proving his loyalty 



by his activity when the campaign is on. 
His first vote was cast in 1864, while he was 
at the front helping to suppress the rebel- 
lion. Naturally he is xevy proud of that 
vote, for it was given for the great emanci- 
pator, Abraham Lincoln. From that time to 
the present he has never wavered in the 
faith. He is also a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, his post being at 
Geneva. He has frequently served his party 
as delegate to various conventions, always 
considering time and money well spent 
when it is devoted to Republican success. 
He and his Avife are members of the Chris- 
tian church and are very popular and highly 
respected in all religious circles. 



FERDINAND BEBERSTEIN. 

Of all the emigrants who reach the 
United States from the countries of Europe 
none show a greater aptitude in adapting 
themselves to our peculiar institutions than 
those who come from Switzerland. Having 
themselves lived in a country where one 
citizen is as good as another if he behaves 
himself as well, they almost immediately 
understand our political methods and cus- 
toms and appreciate the advantages which 
are offered by our laws. The result is that 
they are at once contented and straightway 
proceed to make the most of their new sur- 
roundings. After their home is established 
and they have attained some degree of com- 
fort, they look around and soon take a warm 
degree of interest in our form of govern- 
ment, in our schools, in our churches, in the 
affairs of our county administration, and so 
forth. People who come from some mon- 




MRS. FERDINAND BEBERSTEIN. 




FERDINAND BEBERSTEIN. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



321 



archy require a considerable time to adjust 
their old ideas to the new conditions. Not 
so with emigrants from Switzerland, as was 
shown by the parents of the subject when 
they came here. They at once understood 
our form of government and at once were 
acting in conjunction with all our customs 
and laws. 

Ferdinand Beberstein is the son of 
Benedict Beberstein, who, with his wife, 
was born in Switzerland. In 1834 the 
father came to this country and at once 
bought a piece of land in Wayne county, af- 
ter which he returned to his native land and 
brought back his wife and children. 
He was an active and energetic man 
of sterling honesty, and soon acquired 
a splendid reputation because of his many 
fine qualities. He remained upon the 
original farm in Wayne county until his 
death. He was a member of the German 
Reformed church, in which faith he died. 
He was twice married. His first wife, who 
died in the old country, bore him two chil- 
dren, who both died young. For his sec- 
ond companion he chose Miss Rosanna Rit- 
ter, a native of Germany, and to this union 
there were born children as follows: Julia, 
Jacob, Ferdinand, Alexander, David, 
Rosanna, Louisa, May A., Lena, William, 
Philip and Emanuel. Of these, five are still 
living ; David died in the service of his coun- 
try in the war of the Rebellion, and Alexan- 
der is buried in California. 

Ferdinand Beberstein was reared upon 
his father's farm, but was so situated that 
he was deprived of the advantages of school- 
ing, so that at the time he attained his ma- 
jority he was comparatively ignorant of 
book learning. However, he has always 
been a keen observer of men and things and 



this, coupled with a naturally sharp intellect, 
has enabled him to acquire a fair knowledge 
of business methods and current events. At 
the age of twenty-one years he commenced 
to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he 
became very proficient. He came to Wells 
county, remaining here until 1854, when he 
returned to Wayne county and was married, 
remaining in that county two years. His 
financial condition was at that time at a low 
ebb and in r857 he returned to Vera Cruz, 
this county, and resumed work at the trade 
of carpenter. He built quite a number of 
residences in this section and was also en- 
gaged to some extent as a painter. By strict 
application to his business, wise judgment in 
conducting his affairs and rigid economy 
he was enabled to get ahead in the world so 
that in 1864 he was enabled to purchase a 
half interest in a saw-mill. He conducted 
this business for thirty-three years and was 
so successful that he was enabled to pur- 
chase a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm. In 
1897 the saw-mill was destroyed by fire and 
Mr. Beberstein thereafter devoted his atten- 
tion to his farming interests. He is up-to- 
date in his methods and is winning an envi- 
able reputation as a successful and enter- 
prising farmer. 

On the 8th of April, 1855, Mr. Beber- 
stein was united in marriage with Miss 
Louisa Lydia Stoker and to them have been 
born the following children : William, born 
July 13, 1857, is a millwright and is em- 
ployed in a factory in Michigan ; Lena, born 
March 27, i860, is the wife of Peter Neis- 
wander, of this county ; Louisa is deceased ; 
Frances, born December 6, 1864, is un- 
married; John, born April 28, 1866, mar- 
ried Blanch Laptad, of Kansas, and is em- 
ployed as a stationary engineer by the 



322 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Koran-Krup Company, at Battle Creek, 
Michigan; Edward, born May 6. 1867, is a 
carpenter residing at Berne, Minnesota ; Cal- 
vin, born March 6, 1870, is deceased ; Duleg, 
born October 9, 1875, '^ ^'''^ wife of Frank 
Muesbaum, a barber at Lynn Grove. 

Politically Mr. Beberstein is a Democrat 
and is one of the leaders of his party in this 
section of the county. He is an indefati- 
gable worker in the interest of the party, but 
has never asked for public office, content to 
do his part as a j^rixate citizen. Religiously 
he and his family- are members of the Ger- 
man Reformed church, of which he has been 
a trustee for a number of years. They are 
active workers in the Sunday school and take 
a keen interest in advancing all departments 
of the church. Mr. Beberstein has always 
been an honorable, upright man, industrious, 
temperate, economical, and in every way ex- 
emplary in his daily life and conduct. He 
has performed well his part as a factor of the 
body politic and no one questions his stand- 
ing as one of the leading farmers and enter- 
prising citizens of the township in which 
he lives. 



THEODORE TAYLOR. 

Theodore Taylor, farmer and stock 
raiser and a representative citizen of Wells 
county, was born July 3, 1859, on the farm 
in Nottingham township which he now 
owns. His parents, Theodore and Hannah 
(Silvers) Taylor, were natives of Ohio, the 
former the son of Joseph and Beulah Tay- 
lor, whose respective families were among 
the early settlers of that state. Theodore 
Taylor, Sr., moved to Indiana about the year 
1849 and lived in Jay county until he could 



build a cabin on the land which he had pre- 
viously purchased in the county of Wells. 
This land was covered with a dense forest 
growth at the time and much hard labor was 
required to reduce it to a state of tillage. 
The original dwelling occupied by the fam- 
ily was a log cabin about eighteen by twenty- 
six feet in size, supplied with a few articles 
of furniture such as the pioneers of the early 
times used. Mr. Taylor cleared the greater 
part of his land and in the course of a few 
years became one of the most prosperous 
farmers of Nottingham township. He was 
a gentleman of intelligence and sterling 
worth and in a quiet and unobtrusive way 
did much to promote the material, social and 
moral welfare of the community in which 
he lived. His death occurred in November, 
1879, his wife dying in the year 1888. 
Theodore and Hannah Taylor had seven 
children, namely: William H., deceased; 
Beulah, deceased; Joseph C. deceased; 
Sarah, wife of John Shoemaker, of Adams 
county, this state; Arbella. wife of Daniel 
Shoemaker, of the same county; Theodore,- 
of this review, and Robert Y., a farmer and 
stock raiser of Wells county. 

Theodore Taylor, the direct subject of 
this sketchy was reared on the home place in 
Nottingham township and until about eigh- 
teen years old divided his time between 
working on the farm and attending the dis- 
trict schools. He remained with his father 
until the latter's death, after which he rented 
the farm, his sister Arbella becoming his 
housekeeper and his brother Robert boarding 
with him. In this way the three lived untd 
188 1, on September 18 of which year the 
subject took to himself a wife in the person 
of Miss Clara A. Gensel, who was born in 
Pickaway county, Ohio, August 14, 1862, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



323 



tlie daughter of Samuel and Catherine 
(Schoch) Gensel. The year following his 
marriage Mr. Taylor rented the home place 
and at the expiration of that time bought the 
other heirs' interests in eighty acres of the 
farm, going in debt for the entire amount of 
the purchase price. This heavy obligation 
resting upon him proved an incentive to 
greater effort and he labored with might and 
main until it was discharged, meanwhile 
clearing and draining his land until in point 
of productiveness and value it compared fa- 
vorably with any like area in the township. 
Nearly all of his farm was cleared from the 
green by his own hands, in addition to which 
labor he has also made quite a number of 
good improvements, his buildings of all 
kinds, fences, indeed the general appearance 
of the place, indicating tlie presence of a 
man who has followed agricultural pur- 
suits with the greatest possible success. Like 
the majority of progressive farmers, Mr. 
Taylor devoted much attention to the raising 
of live stock, especially shorthorn cattle, a 
fine breed of hogs and Shropshire sheep, 
his success in this industry being commen- 
surate with that achieved by tilling the soil. 
He is also in receipt of a liberal income from 
the four producing oil wells on his place, 
which, with that derived from other sources, 
has made him one of the financially strong 
men of his community. He possesses good 
business qualifications and has had consider- 
able dealings with his fellow-men, all of 
which have been characterized by an integ- 
rity and high sense of personal honor that 
have won for him the confidence of all with 
whom he has come in contact. Mr. Taylor's 
political views are in harmony with the Re- 
publican party, in which he has been an ac- 
tive worker ever since old enough to cast 



a ballot. He has served a number of times 
as delegate to county and other conventions 
and in his own township is looked upon as 
a safe and conservative leader when cam- 
paigns are in progress. In matters religious 
the Christian (or Disciple) church repre- 
sents his creed. For some years he has been 
a member of the congregation meeting at 
Domestic, being one of the trustees of the 
church as w-ell as one of its leaders in good 
works. His wife and their oldest children 
also belong to the same religious body, 
w-hich fact demonstrates the interest he has 
taken in bringing up his family in the way 
they should go. 

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of 
eight children :. Oliver C, born August 20, 
1882, is a student in the high school, but de- 
votes the time wlien not at his studies to 
work in the oil fields ; Ora E. was born ]\Iay 
15, 1885; Oscar, April 20, 1887; Cora A., 
August 9, 1889; Robert F., November 6. 
1891 ; Eva B., July 28, 1893 ; Fern, Novem- 
ber 13, 1897, and Victor was born on the 
2nd day of April, 1900. 

Samuel and Catherine (Schoch) Gensel, 
the parents of Mrs. Taylor, were married in 
Ohio and a few years thereafter moved to 
Wells county, Indiana, settling in the town- 
ship of Harrison about the year i860. Af- 
ter spending twenty years there they went to 
Champaign county, Illinois, in which state 
their deaths subsequently occurred, Mrs. 
Gensel January 25, 1894, and Mr. Gensel 
August 30, 1 90 1. They had six children, 
all living at this time, whose names are Mrs. 
Margaret J. Connet; Zacharias; Evaline, 
wife of John Cofifum: Mrs. Clara Taylor; 
Martha E., who married Fred Survey and 
Chas. F., who wedded Mattie McFarland. 
Mr. Taylor possesses an old parchment deed. 



3^4 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



bearing the signature of President Martin 
Van Buren and dated November lo, 1840, 
which bore title to land transferred to Joseph 
Taylor, the subject's grandfather. 



MARK WATSON. 



It must be very gratifying to a man who 
has advanced beyond the meridian of a well 
spent life to look back and contemplate the 
good work which, by patient industry and 
unremitting toil, he has accomplished. The 
men who, "back in the "sixties," in the bloom 
of youth, settled in the dense forests of In- 
diana, are now on the shady side of life. 
Many of them still live on the farms which 
by their labors have taken the place of the 
forests. Much of the work which the 
change necessitated was performed by their 
own hands. They have not made as much 
stir, strife or tumult in the world as some 
others, but the world is far better for their 
modest efforts than it is for the blatant zeal 
of some who believe themselves entitled to 
the laurel wreath of fame. 

Mark Watson, the subject of this sketch, 
is one of those who devoted his early man- 
hood to the subjugation of an Indiana forest, 
with a degree of success that must be very 
pleasing to his mature years. He was born 
in Warren county, Ohio, December 26, 
1843, the son of John M. Watson, a native 
of Ireland, who emigrated to America, with 
his parents, in the early part of the last cen- 
tury. The family settled in Virginia, where 
they remained until John grew to manhood, 
when they moved to Warren county, Ohio, 
where John married Miss Ellen Winfield, 
who had been born and reared in that 



county. Having become well skilled in iron 
and steel working, he opened a shop for the 
manufacture of articles in that line and 
prospered from the very first, at times ship- 
ping his wares in car-load lots. In April, 
185 1, he closed out his business and with the 
proceeds moved his family to Nottingham 
township, Wells county, Indiana, where he 
purchased a farm, the one on which John 
Hecker now resides. Here he lived for four 
years, when he moved to the one now owned 
by his son, John Watson, where he remained 
until his death, his beloved wife having pre- 
ceded him through the portal of eternity. 

John M. and Ellen (Winfield) Watson 
were the parents of twelve children, six of 
whom are yet living. During his lifetime 
he accumulated considerable property and at 
his death left quite a valuable estate, owning 
some four hundred acres of valuable land, 
all in one body. Had he lived in times like 
these, that afford so much better opportuni- 
ties for the display and operation of such 
talents as he was known to have possessed, 
there is no doubt that he would have left the 
impress of his abilities upon the state, per- 
haps on the nation. As it was he passed 
away respected and beloved for the many 
virtues of head and heart with which he was 
endowed. 

The education of Mark Watson was 
neither as elaborate or complete as he would 
like to have had it. The best of the public 
schools of those days could stand no com- 
parison with the worst of the present. The 
terms were brief, usually two or three 
months in the year, and were open only dur- 
ing the months of most severe winter weath- 
er. Under those circumstances the student 
life of Mark Watson may readily be under- 
stood to have been brief. However, possess- 



\\'ELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



325 



ed of good memory, an abundance of native 
wit and a fund of good, sound common- 
sense, he managed to acquire enough learn- 
ing, not wholly from books, to subserve 
every purpose, ^^'ith the exception of one 
year spent in the army, during the war, the 
first twenty-five years of Mark's life were 
placed at the disposal of his father and most 
industriously employed in the strenuous la- 
bors of that day on the farm. His military 
career was only one year's duration, but dur- 
ing that period the youthful soldier saw 
more real service than some who had been in 
the ranks from the beginning to the close of 
the war. He was with Sherman on the fa- 
mous march to the sea and was in the thick 
of the fighting in front of Atlanta. At dif- 
ferent times his clothing was shot through, 
but he seeming to bear a charmed life, es- 
caping without a scratch. The closest call 
he had was during a warm engagement 
when a rebel bullet passed so near his head, 
just above his left ear, as to give him a part 
of a very artistic hair-cut. The force of the 
bullet was sufficient to knock him down and 
James Hunter, a comrade, who was doing 
some splendid fighting near by, cried out, 
"God, Watson, are you dead?" Finding 
himself uninjured, he soon arose, resumed 
his place in the ranks and continued until the 
battle was v^on. He was mustered out in 
September, 1865, and returning home re- 
sumed work on his father's farm, where he 
remained until the fall of 1869. 

Mark Watson was married to Matilda 
Dunwiddie on the ist day of September, 
1868. She was a native of Warren county, 
Ohio, where she was born October 25, 1844, 
and was the daughter of Peter and Eunice 
(Haines) Dunwiddie, also natives of Ohio. 
Thev settled in Wells countv, Indiana, about 



1858, where they lived, honored and re- 
spected by all who knew them, until their 
deaths, which occurred a number of years 
ago. Mrs. Watson, their daughter, died 
June 13, 1896, after having lived the life of 
a devoted, faithful wife and mother for a 
period of eighteen years. 

One 3'ear after their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Watson took up their abode upon a 
tract of forty acres of land, thirty acres of 
which was woods that had been recently pur- 
chased by the husband and on which he had 
erected a log cabin, fourteen by twenty-eight 
feet. This, with two colts, one cow, twenty 
young hogs and a limited supply of the 
rudest kind of household furniture, consti- 
tuted the entire worldly possessions of the 
young couple. From this humble beginning 
they continued to increase their possessions 
year by year until today Mr. Watson finds 
himself the owner of one of the most pro- 
ductive and best improved farms in eastern 
Indiana. Stockraising is the particular 
species of farming to which he devotes his 
time. A delightful home, commodious barn 
and substantial outbuildings add to the com- 
fort, convenience and value of the premises. 
The loss of his beloved wife, six years ago, 
is the great sorrow of Mr. Watson's life. 

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
\\'atson, Luella, who remains at home, 
skillfully managing the household affairs of 
her father, and George W., who also re- 
mains at home, assisting his father in 
all necessary farm work. He is a car- 
penter and builder and devotes much 
of his time to work in the oil fields. 
Mr. Watson is a member of John Por- 
ter Post No. 83, G. A. R., of Geneva, 
and is an ardent Republican in politics, but 
sufficiently liberal to prefer the man to the 



326 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



party when it comes to local affairs. He is 
a man of good judgment, unswerving in- 
tegrity and enjoys the confidence and esteem 
of all who know him. His life has been a 
busy one, and while at times he feels that he 
has not accomplished a great deal, when he 
comes to traverse the past again in memory, 
he cannot help but feel that, for the oppor- 
tunities afforded him, he has done much. 
He lives in the consciousness of having faith- 
fully discharged every duty assigned to him 
as a worthy man and good citizen. 

Mr. Watson has in his possession an old 
parchment sheepskin deed, bearing the sig- 
nature of President Van Buren and executed 
February 12, 1838. 



WILLIAM A. KUNKEL. 

William A. Kunkel was born in Lancas- 
ter township. Wells county. Indiana, Janu- 
ary 31. 1868. He remained on the farm 
with his parents until the age of sixteen 
years was reached, attending the public 
schools and rounding out his education at 
the Bluffton high school, from which he 
graduated at the age of eighteen years, when 
he began looking about for an opportunity 
to acquire practical knowledge of business 
life through personal contact. Securing 
employment with a Bluffton clothing firm, 
he remained with them but a short time, the 
opportunities in that class of business being 
not sufficiently encouraging to come up to 
his ambitions. His next engagement was 
with the engineer of the Clover Leaf Rail- 
road as a rodman, in which his duties were 
of a responsible character. After returning 
from a dav's work with a crew of men, he 



was one day retained in the office to attend 
to some reports of considerable importance 
bearing upon the work in progress upon the 
road. So thorough and satisfactory was his 
work in this respect that Mr. Kunkel was 
thereafter retained in the offices of the com- 
pany, discharging his duties in a manner 
eminently satisfactory and at the same time 
developing remarkable business qualities 
which soon resulted in his promotion to the 
office of chief clerk to H. T. Porter, resident 
engineer to the Clover Leaf Railroad. Dur- 
ing this period of employment Mr. Kunkel 
had acquired considerable knowledge of civil 
engineering, being an apt and observant pu- 
pil, and this resulted later in the tender of 
a position in charge of an engineer corps 
engaged on the road, which was accepted, 
the young man at the same time being ac- 
corded the honor of being assistant to the 
resident engineer. Resigning this import- 
ant position in October, 1889, at twenty-one 
years of age, he became deputy surveyor of 
Wells county, the year following being elect- 
ed to the office of county surveyor on the 
Democratic ticket, his popularity being 
shown in his re-election to the same office 
in 1892. During his term of office there 
was made in the county over six hundred 
thousand dollars worth of improvements, 
principally upon the highways, which re- 
main as an evidence of the business ability 
of the young man. 

Meanwhile the petroleum developments 
had begun in the Hoosier state and the 
}'oung man was attracted to them by reason 
of the great inducements held out for quick 
returns to fortunate investors, and while 
in the county surveyor's office he, with 
other parties, dabbled to some extent in pro- 
duction of Trenton rock oil in different por- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



}>27 



tions of tlie surrounding country. The fall 
of 1890 marked his induction into the oil 
business, though for the first four years his 
operations were not the most successful, 
owing to the lack of time in connection with 
his official duties to properly attend to his 
own business. In the fall of 1894 he gave 
his entire attention to his producing inter- 
ests, and during the next two years did a 
great deal of wildcatting, opening up 
several pools in Wells county, among them 
the Ogle pool, his investments netting him 
some profitable returns. In 1896 he accept- 
ed a responsible position with the Cudahy 
oil interests, having charge of the right of 
way and pipe line departments, holding that 
position until May. 1898. when he was given 
complete charge of the field producing inter- 
ests of the pipe lines of the Cudahys, re- 
taining this position one year after the en- 
tire Cudahy properties were sold to the 
Standard Oil Company, since which time he 
has been in the producing business in the 
Indiana field for himself. He is now stock- 
holder and director in the Midway, Senior, 
and Illinois and Indiana Oil Companies 
and a number of other oil properties in Indi- 
ana. 

Mr. Kunkel is a member of the Masonic 
order, being a Knight Templar. He is also 
a member of the Knights of Pythias and a 
charter member of the Elks Lodge No. 796, 
also Bluffton Commercial Club. 

Mr. Kunkel was married June 24. 1891, 
to Miss Minnie A. Morgan, of Blufifton, 
Indiana, and to them three children have 
been born, William A., Jr., Kenneth M. and 
Marjorie. Mr. Kunkel makes his home in 
Blufifton. and in that place is regarded as 
one of the most prominent and progressive 
citizens. 



LOT McCULLICK. 

Lot McCullick was born in Chester 
township, Wells county, Indiana, April 24, 
1855. The parents of Lot emigrated to 
and were married at an early date in Ches- 
ter township. Wells county, where his father 
is still living at the ripe old age of seventy- 
five years. The subject attended school in 
Chester township until he was about seven- 
teen years of age and remained at home with 
his parents until he was twenty-five. The 
year preceding his marriage he received one- 
third of the crops which he raised on his 
father's farm. December 25, 1879, the sub- 
ject was married to L. M. Ashbaugh. who 
was born in Ohio, December 9, 1855, the 
daughter of Andrew and Martha Ashbaugh, 
both of whom are now deceased. 

Lot, after his marriage, settled in Ches- 
ter township about one mile from where he 
now lives, renting a farm where he remained 
about one year. He then moved onto Mr. 
Bell's farm in Chester township and re- 
mained there for about two years. He then 
rented the Mollie Hall farm for money rent, 
where he remained for one year and then re- 
moved to the Kilander place in Chester 
township and was there for one year. In 
1855 he removed to Harland county. Ne~ 
braska, where he remained for about two 
years, going then to Thomas county, Kan- 
sas. After remaining there about eight 
months, he returned to his first love, Ches- 
ter township, moving onto the place where 
he now lives and owns a fine farm of fifty 
acres of good land. The one well on his 
place proves its value as oil territory, but 
the possibilities in that line of his farm are 
yet undeveloped. When the subject was 
twenty-two years of age he made a trip into 



328 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and through the state of Minnesota for 
eleven months. He is a wide-awake, general 
stock farmer. He is the father of seven chil- 
dren, five of which are still living: Harry, 
born October 7, 1880, now an oil pumper in 
Grant county; Ollie, born July 26, 1883, at 
home, graduated this year from the common 
schools; an infant, deceased, born July 12, 
1884; Clarence, born in Thomas county, 
Kansas, September 24, 1886; Edna, born 
January 17, i8gi ; Mary, born August 17. 
1894. 

In a religious way the family of the sub- 
ject are connected with the Christian church. 
In politics he is a Democrat and an active 
worker in the party. Mr. McCullick was 
elected trustee of Chester township in 1900 
and has also held the office of justice of the 
peace for four years. He is a sample of 
the bright, energetic and restless American 
farmer, a class who honor the profession 
of husbandrv. 



FRANK W. MOSURE. 

The office of biography is not to give 
voice to a man's modest estimate of himself 
and his accomplishments, but rather to put 
upon record the v£rdict establishing his 
character by the consensus of opinion on the 
part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. In 
touching upon the life history of the subject 
of this sketch the writer aims to avoid ful- 
some encomium and extravagant praise ; yet 
he desires to hold up for consideration those 
facts which have shown the distinction of a 
true, useful and honorable life — a life char- 
acterized by perseverance, energy, broad 
charity and well-defined purpose. To do 



this will be but to reiterate the dictum pro- 
nounced upon the man by the people who 
have known him long and well. 

Frank W. Mosure is the son of Jonathan 
and Elizabeth (Krill) Mosure and was born 
at Bluffton, Wells county, Indiana, Febru- 
ary 8, 1 86 1. Jonathan Mosure was a na- 
tive of Ohio, but in the early 'fifties came to 
Indiana and located in Bluffton. He was a 
blacksmith and, in partnership with John 
Shoemaker, ran a blacksmith shop, the one 
now owned by Josiah Freeser. He followed 
that occupation until 1865 and then moved 
to Vera Cruz, where he followed his trade 
and in connection therewith ran a buggy 
and carriage factory. He remained thus en- 
gaged for about twenty years, when he sold 
out and retired to a forty-acre farm which 
he had purchased in Adams county, where 
he still resides. He is widely known- and by 
all is highly esteemed. To him and his wife 
have been, born six children, as follows: 
Frank is the immediate subject ; John A. is 
a farmer and resides in Adams county ; Ed- 
ward is a blacksmith at Newville, Indiana; 
Ella is the wife of William Spade, a farmer 
living in Adams county; Mary is the wife of 
William Selby, of Adams county; Lulu is 
unmarried. All these children were given 
the benefit of a good common school edu- 
cation and have grown into strong and 
sturdy manhood and womanhood, an honor 
to their parents. 

Frank W. Mosure remained at the home 
at Bluffton until he was four years old, 
when he was taken to Vera Cruz, where he 
has since continued to make his home. He 
received a very good education, attending 
first the village school and later the county 
normal at Bluffton. In 1882 he commenced 
teaching school, an occupation which he fol- 




FRANK MOSURE. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



329 



lowed for two terms, and then entered 
Union Christian College. He pursued his 
studies in that institution for one year and 
also attended Antioch College for two terms. 
His studies had all been directed towards his 
intended induction into the ministry, which 
he subsequently realized, being ordained as 
a minister of the Christian church and tak- 
ing up special work as an evangelist. He 
was devoted to his work and maintained an 
active connection with the pulpit until 1901. 
In 1892 he was elected to the office of justice 
of the peace and served until 1900, dis- 
charging the duties of the office in such a 
manner as to win the hearty commendation 
of all. He was also commissioned a notary 
public and is still serving in that capacity. 
During his ministry he was active in his 
efforts to carry the gospel tidings of salva- 
tion to all within his reach and the good he 
has done in the world can be only definitely 
measured in "that last great day." Of a 
pleasing personal presence, ready command 
of language, enthusiastic in his work, he 
wielded a powerful influence and was the 
means of inducing many to forsake the ways 
of sin and follow in the footsteps of the man 
of Nazareth. 

Mr. Mosure was united in marriage on 
the 1st of March, 1884, to Miss Rosa Geh- 
ring, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She possesses 
a good common school education and has 
proven to her husband a faithful and de- 
voted companion. To this union has been 
born one child, Dessie, the date of her birth 
being January 25, 1890. In politics Mr. 
Mosure is a firm and uncompromising 
Democrat, but aside from the exercise of his 
right of franchise he takes no very active 
part in political matters. He is now actively 
engaged in the real estate business and is 



known as one of Wells county's most active 
and energetic business men and is achieving 
for himself an enviable reputation for ster- 
ling honesty and a desire to do by others as 
he would be done by. His support has ever 
been given to all measures for the public 
good, he is a man of broad humanitarian 
principles, of earnest purpose and upright 
life, and does all in his power for the uplift- 
ing of his fellow men and the promotion of 
the moral welfare of his community. 



WILLIAM RALSTIAN. 

The years of the Civil war are often re- 
ferred to as "the days which tried men's 
souls." The men who went to the front to 
fight for the preservation of the Union, 
know that these years were indeed what they 
are characterized to be in the above saying. 
But not all of those who were soldiers of 
the great Civil war were obliged to go 
through the fiery ordeal. Some saw active, 
constant service almost from the moment of 
enlistment until peace was declared. Others, 
more fortunate, were only permitted to ac- 
quire a knowledge of military tactics and 
of camp life, without even a remote ac- 
quaintance with the odor of rebel powder. 
It will be readily seen by a perusal hereof 
that William Ralstian, of Geneva, Indiana, 
was not one of the latter species of soldier. 

Mr. Ralstian is a native of Lawrence 
county, Ohio, where he was born in Septem- 
ber, 1844. His father was James Ralstian, 
of Adams county, Ohio ; his mother's maid- 
en name was Mary A. Grubb, a native of the 
same state. After marriage they settled in 
Lawrence county, where William and his 



330 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



brothers and sisters were born and where 
they continued to reside until the death of 
the father, James Ralstian, which occurred 
about 1854, when the subject of this sketch 
was ten years old. James and Mary Ral- 
stian were the parents of seven children, only 
two of whom are still living. Alexander, 
Angaline. Adaline and Ellison died com- 
paratively early in life. Smith passing away 
later. Of the seven children, only William 
and his brother Augustus, a resident of New 
Cordin, are the survivors. 

For some time after the death of her hus- 
band Mrs. Ralstian remained a widow, car- 
ing for her children to the best of her ability 
and sending them to the public schools of 
their native county. About the time William 
was thirteen years of age his mother married 
again, taking for her husband a man named 
Washington Katon. The family, about 
1857, moved to Jay county. Indiana, but the 
mother did not remain long. She returned 
to Ohio, leaving the two older boys, William 
and Smith, to make their home in Indiana. 
William was entrusted to the guardianship 
of Wm. McDowell, a man who seems to 
have been kind and indulgent, for his ward 
was permitted, most of the time, to work out 
by the month. This he continued to do until 
October 6, 1861, when the call for volun- 
teers caused him to enroll himself among the 
defenders of his country. He enlisted as a 
private in Company A. Forty-seventh Regi- 
ment Indiana Volunteers. This was the 
regiment of Col. Jas. R. Slack and at differ- 
ent times during the war the youthful volun- 
teer served under Captains McLaughlin, 
Sturges and Huff. The five months follow- 
ing his enlistment were devoted to the ac- 
quisition of that knowledge which is con- 
sidered essential to the trained soldier. The 



1st of March. 1862. found the regiment well 
to the front and a few days later it was con- 
fronting the enemy in battle array. From 
that time on to the cessation of hostilities the 
gallant Forty-seventh knew nothing of peace 
or quietness and experienced but little of rest 
or repose. Ardent, active, untiring and in- 
trepid, young Ralstian, but little more than 
seventeen years of age. never shirked or lag- 
ged behind. As may be seen by the list of 
battles, the regiment was always in the thick 
of the fight and the youthful Ralstian was 
with it in every engagement. Here is the 
list of battles: Fort Thompson, March 14, 
1862 ; Riddles Point. Mississippi. March 18, 
1862 ; Fort Pillow, May 19 to 23 and June 
3 'to 5, 1862 ; Brown's Plantation, August 

11, 1862; Fort Pemberton, March 11 to 16, 
1863; Port Gibson, Mississippi, May i, 
1863; Champion Hill, May 16, 1863; siege 
of Vicksburg, May 22 to July 4, 1863 : Jack- 
son, Mississippi, July 7 to 16, 1863 ; Grand 
Gulf, October, 1863; Alexander, May 5, 
1864: Marksville Prairie, May 16, 1864; 
Atchafalaya, Louisiana, July 28, 1864; Fort 
Spanish. Alabama, April i to 5, 1865 ; Fort 
Blakely, April 2 to 9. 1865 ; Mobile, April 

12, 1865. After an experience upon many 
fields of carnage, such as seldom falls to the 
lot of men during the period of a long life, 
William] Ralstian, yet scarce twenty-one years 
old, was mustered out of the service. While 
there was yet a shot to be fired he had re- 
mained, serving four long and trying years, 
only ceasing to be a soldier when his coun- 
try had no further use for his services in that 
capacity. His honorable discharge from the 
service was placed in his hand at Baton 
Rouge in the fall of 1865. 

Returning home to Adams county, after 
sojourning a short time in Indianapolis, the 



WELLS COUNTY, 1XDL\NA. 



331 



sword became a plow-share, the bayonet, a 
pruning hook. In other words, the bone and 
sinew and muscle that for four years had 
been devoted to the suppression of rebellion 
were now^ turning to the more agreeable 
calling of industry. From 1865 to 1S71 he 
actively engaged in the usual work of that 
period on the farm, including the clearing 
of land, making rails and erecting new 
fences. Those who had predicted that the 
soldier boys who had been schooled in war 
for four long years could never again con- 
tent themselves with the monotony of peace, 
were woefully mistaken. Hundreds of 
thousands like William Ralstian — the best 
soldiers that ever brought victory to an army 
— cjuietly settled down to the habits of peace 
with all the easy grace of men who had only 
been off the farm for a brief vacation. 

On March 18, 187 1, William Ralstian 
w-as married to IMiss Frances Fields, the 
daughter of Andrew and Clarissa Fields, 
both natives of Tennessee wdio had moved to 
Adams county, Indiana, where Frances was 
born. Mr. and Mrs. Fields are still living, 
making their home with their daughter and 
her husband, and are the oldest settlers of 
Adams county now living, Mr. Fields being 
eighty years old, his wife, seventy-six years. 
They are the parents of eleven children, five 
of whom are still living: William is a resi- 
dent of Oklahoma; Joseph resides in Stur- 
ges, Michigan ; Sarah is the wife of Daniel 
Shoemaker, of Portland. Indiana; Frances 
is the wife of William Ralstian ; Lydia A. is 
the wife of John L^pdegraph ; Hilinda, Alex- 
ander, Daniel, Julia, Andrew and Lovinda 
are dead. 

By his labors of the farm and his pay 
from the government in the field Mr. Ral- 
stian had saved enough money at the time 



of his marriage to pay for an eighty-acre 
tract of land, which he improved and on 
which he erected a residence. There he now 
resides, enjoying all of the happiness that 
good health, contentment and domestic fe- 
licity can bring. When this tract was bought 
only about ten acres were improved land, his 
first home upon it being a cabin, erected by 
himself, eighteen by twenty- four feet. With 
this home, a team of horses, a cow and a few 
pigs the young couple started to make their 
fortune. Now, seventy of the eighty acres 
are cleared and forty acres more of cleared 
land have been added to the tract, making a 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres. 
Upon this they have six producing oil wells 
which are daily adding to their stock of 
wealth. Mr. Ralstian now devotes his en- 
tire time to the cultivation of this farm and 
to the rearing of fine stock. All his life, ex- 
cept while in the army, he has devoted to 
farming, in every branch of which he has 
Ijeen eminently successful. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ralstian are the parents of 
ten children, six of whom are now living. 
The oldest, Ruetta, was born December 28, 
1871, is married to Joseph Wilson, of 
Adams county, and they are the parents of 
three children, Ora, Ottie and William; 
Emmet was born July 15, 1874, and mar- 
ried Ida Runyon; they also live in Adams 
county and are the parents of three children, 
Edith, \\'esley and Mary. The other chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Ralstian are Anthony, 
born March 18, 1877, died September 18, 
1878; Amanda, born February 17, 1879, 
died January 7, 188 1; Andrew, born No- 
vember 19, 1880, died September 6, 1881; 
Luther, born September 28. 1882 ; Clifton, 
born September 16, 1884; Alice, born Janu- 
ary 18, 1886; Blanche, born December 31, 



2,2>2 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



1888; Alta M., born March 15, 1890, died 
December 10, 1894. Luther, Chfton, Ahce 
and Blanche all live with their parents. 

Mrs. Ralstian is a member of and a 
zealous, active worker of the Friends church 
of White Oak. She is very solicitous as to 
the spiritual welfare of her family and never 
loses an opportunity of doing good in the in- 
terest of Christianity and for the welfare of 
humanity. Mr. Ralstian is an active mem- 
ber of John C. Porter Post No. 83, G. A. R., 
Geneva. He is a firm believer in the prin- 
ciples of the Republican party, and a liberal 
contributor to the dissemination and ad- 
vancement of those principles. In every 
walk of life he has acquitted himself most 
creditably. As a soldier, husband, father 
and citizen he has proven himself a man of 
whom any community may well be proud. 



GEORGE F. McFARREN. 

The history of a county or state, as well 
as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of 
the lives and deeds of those who have con- 
ferred honor and dignity upon society. The 
world judges the character of a community 
by those of its representative citizens and 
yields its tributes of admiration and respect 
to those whose works and actions consti- 
tute the record of a state's prosperity and 
pride. Among the prominent citizens of 
Wells county who are well known because of 
the part they have taken in public affairs 
is George F. McFarren, of Bluffton. 

Mr. McFarren was born in Salamonie 
township, Huntington county, Indiana, May 
30, 1844. His parents were Jacob and 
Rachel McFarren, of the same township. 



Jacob was a prosperous, intelligent, well in- 
formed farmer, who was careful to see that 
his son received a good education. The 
early life of G. F. McFarren was spent upon 
the farm where he was born, employing his 
time when not in school in the usual farm 
work and making diligent use of his time in 
the winter months with his studies: In 1857 
his parents moved to Wells count}' where he 
continued to pursue his studies in the pub- 
lic schools, eventuall}' qualifying himself for 
teaching. He taught several terms with 
gratifying success, never relinquishing his 
diligence in the pursuit of his own studies. 
Before he gave up the calling he was recog- 
nized as one of the ablest mathematicians 
in Wells county. 

In 1865 Mr. McFarren entered the Iron 
City Commercial College, at Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania, where he took the regular 
course and became an expert bookkeeper. 
On returning to Bluffton he was offered, in 
1866, the position of deputy county auditor, 
which he accepted and discharged the duties 
of the position with marked ability. How- 
ever, the enforced sedentary habits of an of- 
ficial position were not suitable to a person 
of his active temperament and he decided to 
embark in the mercantile business. He es- 
tablished a grocery store in Bluffton and 
conducted it with such signal ability as to 
secure the patronage of the best people and 
to extend far beyond the expectations of his 
most sanguine friends. This he continued 
until 1880, when, having in view an en- 
trance into another branch of business, he 
sold out and at a fair profit. At that time 
an old building stood on the corner of Main 
and Market streets. Finding the property 
could be purchased at reasonable figures, he 
bought it, tore down the old structure and 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



333 



replaced it Avith a large brick block tbat at 
present adorns that corner. In this building 
he established himself in the clothing busi- 
ness, in which he has continued ever since, 
each succeeding year finding him with an in- 
creased patronage. Success seems to have 
attended every effort he has made in life. 
Some may attribute his achievements to 
good luck. Those who know best place the 
credit where it is justly due. Nothing is 
undertaken by him that is not first figiu^ed 
out according to well-established mathe- 
matical principles. 

George F. McFarren was twice married. 
On December 25, 1866, he was joined in the 
holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Martha J. 
Miller, and to this union one daughter was 
born, Winnettie M., May 9, 1869. She is 
a graduate of the Bluffton high school in 
the class of 1886, and is now the wife of 
William S. Smith, of Bluffton. June 14, 
1874, Mrs. Martha (Miller) McFarren de- 
parted this life. When time had assuaged 
his sorrow Mr. McFarren was, on the 28th 
of December, 1875, again united in mar- 
riage, this time to Miss Martha J. Bennett, 
born in Bluffton, September i, 1849. She 
was the daughter of Robert C. and Harriett 
Bennett, who were among the early pioneers 
of Wells county. To this union were born 
two sons, Harry, April 2, 1877, the junior 
member of the firm of G. F. McFarren & 
Son, and Earl, born May 15, 1884. 

W' hen the Wells County Bank was being 
organized George F. McFarren was a stock- 
holder, became a director and is still retained 
as a member of the board. In the Adams 
and Wells county oil fields he invested 
largely and profitably. Politically he is a 
Democrat, but neither active nor partisan. 
He is a careful observer of the trend of the 



times and rarely misses a guess as to re- 
sults. Religiously he and his famil;f are 
members of the Baptist church, regular at- 
tendants upon its services and liberal con- 
tributors to all worthy causes, religious or 
charitable. All legitimate enterprises hav- 
ing for their object the benefit of the city 
find in him a faithful friend and promoter. 
He has ever been the implacable foe of all 
schemes and jobs, and people with measures 
of that kind soon learned to give him a wide 
berth. Such enterprises as the asphalt pave- 
ments and the city water works received his 
hearty support and endorsement. 

The number of those who, with the lim- 
ited opportunities afforded, have accom- 
plished as much as George F. McFarren are 
very few. Beginning a poor boy on the 
farm, earning his bread by his daily toil, 
later teaching that he might obtain the 
money wherewith to pay the expense of 
being taught, and eventually, practically 
without capital, becoming one of the pros- 
perous merchants of the city of Bluffton, 
is an achievement that justly swells with 
pride the breasts of his relatives and friends. 
Many of the young men of his early ac- 
quaintance, with brighter prospects and op- 
portunities many fold better, he has far out- 
stripped in the race of life. With means to 
supply every want, he and his good wife may 
now pass their declining years in ease and 
comfort. 

Harry McFarren secured his education 
in the graded schools of Bluffton, and also 
took the regular course at the Valparaiso 
(Indiana) Commercial College. While 
still young he entered his father's store as 
clerk and assistant and readily absorbed a 
knowledge of the business. This occupation, 
however, was not permitted to interfere with 



334 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



liis studies or encroach upon the time that 
should be employed in the school room. 
When he had completed the course at the 
Valparaiso Commercial College his father 
for a time employed him in the store, and 
later, when he had disclosed an aptitude for 
business rarely met with in one so young, 
made him a partner in the business. The 
firm is now styled G. F. McFarren & Son. 

On the 2 1 St of September, 1898, Harry 
McFarren was united in marriage to Miss 
Flo Morris, daughter of John and Etta 
(Powell) Morris, of Bluffton. Mr. Morris 
is an alderman of the city. To this union 
one child has been born, Harriet, the date of 
her birth being' March 3, 1900. Mr. and 
Mrs. McFarren are members of the Baptist 
church and are liberal contributors to its 
support, as they are of all worthy objects. 
In politics he is a member of the Democratic 
party, but has evinced no thirst for political 
preferment. He is a model young man, of 
domestic tastes and good habits. Now 
starting on the verge of a most promising 
business career, well equipped by nature and 
education for whatever may be required of 
him in the line he has undertaken, it remains 
to be seen whether or not he will equal or 
surpass the achievements of his worthy 
father. 



JOHN M. BUCK. 



This prominent manufacturer and head 
of one of Bluffton's leading industrial enter- 
prises is a native of Indiana, born at Alexan- 
dria, Madison county, on the 2d day of 
June, 1853. His father, Henry Buck, for- 
merly a land owner and farmer of the above 
countv, was of German descent, and the 



mother, whose maiden name was Jemima 
Chamness, comes from a long line of Quaker 
ancestors. For many years Henry Buck was 
not only one of the leading agriculturists of 
Madison county, but also achieved promi- 
nence as a local politician of the Republican 
party, having been one of the first men in his 
part of the state openly to avow and defend 
what was then the political heresy of aboli- 
tionism. He acquired some property, was 
twice married, and departed this life in the 
year 1867. His second wife, the mother ot 
the subject of this sketch, is still living. 

John M. Buck was the oldest of the chil- 
dren liorn to his father's second marriage. 
He was reared to maturity in close touch 
with nature and as a farm hand early learned 
by experience the true meaning of honest 
toil. His means for acquiring an education 
were such as a few months' attendance each 
year at the public schools afforded, conse- 
quently he is not a learned man in the sense 
of the term as generally understood, 
although possessing a fund of valuable prac- 
tical knowledge such as schools and col- 
leges do not impart. Young Buck assisted 
in cultivating the home farm until his 
twenty-fourth year, when he started into the 
world for himself^, first directing his atten- 
tion to buying and selling lumber and later 
taking up the trade of wood turning. He 
started, in 1890, a small establishment of his 
own in the town of Geneva. He spent about 
five years at the above place, when he found 
it necessary to secure a more favorable loca- 
tion, consequently he moved his establish- 
ment to the city of Bluffton. 

Since moving to the latter place in 1895 
Mr. Buck has built up an extensive business 
and, as stated in the initial paragraph, the 
enterprise has become one of the largest and 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



335 



most important of the city's industries. In 
addition to the plant at Bluffton. which gives 
employment to about twenty-five men and 
from three to five teams every working day 
of the year, he operates a branch factory at 
Auburn, this state, which, under his direc- 
tion, has steadily increased its output and 
grown in public favor. Mr. Buck manu- 
factures wooden tool handles. His weekly 
pay roll at Bluffton alone will average about 
two hundred and fifty dollars, in addition 
to which he pays each week to the farmers 
in the vicinity who urnish him, very satis- 
factorily, with raw material the sum of four 
hundred dollars. 

Mr. Buck began manufacturing in a very- 
small way and the large measure of success 
which has attended him is due entirely to 
his own energy, superior management and 
wise business foresight. At the outset he 
encountered many difficulties and numerous 
obstacles calculated to impede and discour- 
age, but with an inborn determination which 
hesitated at none of these impediments to his 
progress, he persevered, gradually removing 
everything in his pathway and gaining favor 
until he found himself upon a well estab- 
lished basis which made ultimate success a 
certainty. That he has achieved his aim 
is abundantly attested by the place his plant 
occupies among the industries of Bluffton, 
in the business circles of the city and 
throughout the state. The constantly in- 
creasing demands for his products necessi- 
tates the running of his several establish- 
ments at their full capacity, and, judging by 
present prospects, their enlargement or the 
building of additional plants is only a matter 
of time. 

Few men in Wells county stand higher 
in the esteem of their fellow citizens than 



Mr. Buck and none have better records for 
energy, honesty and sterling integrity. He 
is a man of actions rather than words, at- 
tends strictly to his own affairs, at the same 
time being not unmindful of the duty which 
every citizen owes to the public. He is es- 
sentially a business man and as such ranks 
with the most enterprising and progressive 
of his contemporaries, deserving of great 
credit for what he has done for this city in 
the way of giving employment to labor and 
providing a good market for the farmers 
with timber to dispose of. Mr. Buck sup- 
ports the Republican party, but aside from 
voting for the regular nominees takes little 
interest in political matters, having no ambi- 
tion to gratify in the way of public distinc- 
tion or official honors. He owns a beautiful 
and attractive home on the corner of Wabash 
and Market streets, where he welcomes and 
entertains his friends with a genuine hospi- 
tality. 

Mr. Buck was married in 1880 to Miss 
Caroline Pugh, of Alexandria, Madison 
county, this state, a union blessed with three 
children: Roland C, the eldest, was born 
on the 20th day of June. 188 1, served with 
Company M. Twent}--eightli Regiment 
United States Infantry, in the Philippines. 
and was shot and killed from ambush by 
native robbers on July 13, 1902: Clyde, the 
second of the family, was born December 7, 
18S3; Alline, the youngest, is a student in 
the Bluffton high school. Mrs. Buck is a 
member of the Methodist church and well 
known in the best social circles of the city. 
\\'hile not identified with any religious or- 
ganization himself, Mr. Buck believes in the 
church as a great moral force among men 
and is liberal in his contributions to its sup- 
port. 



336 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



JONAS MEYER. 

Jonas Meyer is a son of Peter and Eliza- 
beth (Mosure) Meyer, of whom mention is 
made on another page of this vohime, in the 
sketch of Albert Meyer. Jonas Meyer is the 
fourth child of a family of eight children 
and was reared to manhood on the home 
farm in Harrison township, where his birth 
took place November 28, 1869. He was 
educated in the district school, which he at- 
tended until sixteen years of age, but worked 
on the farm industriously .throughout his 
school days when not engaged in study, con- 
tinuing so to work until he was twenty-one 
years old. when he began working out at 
ditching and such other work as he could 
find to do, appropriating his earnings to his 
own use, but saving by far the greater por- 
tion. In 1894 he engaged in partnership 
with Daniel Gilliam in well drilling, work- 
ing in 1896 with his brother David and in 
1897 with Wm. Engler, having saved dur- 
ing that time about two thousand five 
hundred dollars. 

Jonas Meyer Avas united in the holy bonds 
of matrimony with Miss Mary Rich, a 
daughter of Joseph Rich, of Adams county, 
and about the same time he invested his 
means in an eighty-acre tract of land, for 
which he paid in full. This farm he has 
improved with a fine dwelling and also a 
well built barn, forty by seventy-six feet in 
dimensions, together with other farm build- 
ings of equally substantial construction. To 
the marriage of Jonas and Mary (Rich) 
Meyer have been born four children, 
namely: Joseph, February 21, 1895; Peter, 
November 21, 1897; LilHe, April 14, 1900, 
and Chance, born August 8, 1902. Though 
not active in politics, Mr. Meyer is of Demo- 



cratic proclivities and usually votes as suits 
his judgment, irrespective of party nomi- 
nations. He looks at both sides of a ques- 
tion, weighs the matter carefully and with 
deliberation, and having thoroughly digest- 
ed it mentally, arrives at a conclusion de- 
cisive and permanent, and this conclusion be- 
comes the rule for his future action. He 
thus weighs political issues and never per- 
mits his prior predilections to interfere with 
or bias his judgment. 

As a farmer, the success of Mr. Meyer 
has been phenomenal for so young a man, 
and this fact is but another evidence of the 
thoroughness with which he studies and 
weighs everything which comes under his 
control or his observation. His integrity 
has never been questioned, and he stands be- 
fore his fellow citizens the peer of all. 



MICHAEL LONG. 



The career of the gentleman whose 
name introduces this review illustrates 
most forcibly the possibilities that are open 
to a young man possessing sterling business 
qualifications, supplemented by the requis- 
ite amount of energy to direct the same in 
their proper channels. It also proves that 
ambitious perseverance in the face of oppos- 
ing circumstances, steadfast purpose and 
untiring industry, combined with sound 
judgment, will eventually be rewarded and 
that true success is the legitimate result of 
individual effort. Although a recent acces- 
sion to the population of Wells county, Mr. 
Long has already gained recognition 
and prestige as a shrewd, farsighted 
business man in one of the leading 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



337 



industries of the state, while his stand- 
ing as a prominent and influential citi- 
zen is none the less honorable and assured. 
Mr. Long was born of poor but respectable 
parents May 30, 1852, and claims New 
York as his native commonwealth. The 
father came to this country from Ireland 
and, possessing but little worldly wealth, 
was unable to furnish his son with the ad- 
vantages which the majority of American 
lads enjoy. The subject's educational 
training was limited to a few months' at- 
tendance at the common school during his 
youth and while still a mere boy he was 
obliged to rely upon his own resources for 
a livelihood. At the age of fourteen he 
went to the oil fields of Pennsylvania, where 
he worked in various capacities during the 
ensuing four years, retaining only enough 
of his wages to meet living expenses, con- 
tributing the greater part to the support of 
his parents and younger members of the 
family. The year following his arrival in 
Pennsylvania he engaged with Capt. J. T. 
Jones, the largest oil producer of that day, 
and spent about fifteen years in his employ, 
during ten of which he served as foreman of 
a large force of workmen in the Bradford 
district. In this way Mr. Long soon be- 
came conversant with the oil industry in all 
its details and his valuable practical exper- 
ience finally led him to embark in the busi- 
ness as a producer instead of spending all 
of his time and knowledge acquiring wealth 
for others. Before severing his connection 
with his employer, he began operating in a 
modest way and in due time succeeded in 
obtaining quite a substantial start, accumu- 
lating, beside a complete outfit, considerable 
valuable oil property. By a sudden and un- 
fortunate experience he learned what so 



many long before his day had learned, that 
material wealth rests upon a very insecure 
foundation and is liable at any moment to 
take wings and vanish. This was very for- 
cibly brought to his mind by a fire which 
gained such headway that within a very 
short time his hard earned savings of sev- 
eral years disappeared in flames and smoke, 
leaving him as poor as when he began life's 
struggle. Considerably cast down, but by 
no means discouraged, he at once set about 
to retrieve his fortune and the better to 
carry out his plans decided to try the Indi- 
ana fields, which at that time held out many 
promising inducements. He first came to 
Geneva, Indiana, where he drilled six dry 
holes. In 1892 he came to Wells county, 
poor in purse but animated by a determina- 
tion to win success if it could be done by 
energy, backed by previous experience as 
an operator. For some time he labored 
against a formidable array of opposing cir- 
cumstances, losing considerable of his means 
in ineffectual drilling. Later he made a 
judicious investment in Nottingham town- 
ship where matters soon began to assume 
a more encouraging aspect. In due time 
he struck oil in that promising field and 
since then his success has not only been sure 
but rapid, his wells now- being among the 
most prolific producers in this part of the 
state. By close attention to business and 
thiorough management he has steadily come 
to the front as one of the leading oil men of 
Indiana, having accumulated within the last 
ten years through his own eflforts a fortune 
considerably in excess of seventy-five 
thousand dollars, while his future prospects 
point to still larger and longer continued 
returns. 

Mr. Long is conservative in his meth- 



338 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ods. calculating with the greatest care be- 
fore embarking in an undertaking, but 
when once he addresses himself to an en- 
terprise it is prosecuted to successful issue 
with energy and dispatch. He possesses 
the rare power of foreseeing the end from 
the beginning and since commencing oper- 
ations in the Indiana fields his labors have 
seldom miscarried and his judgment has 
rarely been at fault. In the year 1896 he 
moved his family to Bluffton and now owns 
an elegant and well appointed home on 
West Cherry street, his place being one of 
the finest residence properties in the city. 

While residing at Bradford. Pennsyl- 
vania, Mr. Long was happily married to 
Miss Anna Flaherty, whose parents came to 
this country a number of years ago from 
their native home in Ireland. To this union 
five children have been born, all of whom 
are living and still members of the home 
fireside. In social life Mr. Long is a pleas- 
ant gentleman of agreeable presence, win- 
ning friends wherever he goes and standing 
high in the esteem of those with whom he 
mingles. His domestic habits are pure and 
strong and his home is the center of a gen- 
erous hospitality. There, surrounded by 
family and friends, he enjoys that repose 
which comes from cordial interchange of 
kindly deeds with those near to him and 
without which life would lose much of its 
charm. He also delights to meet with com- 
panions and kindred spirits in the fraternal 
organizations to which he belongs, viz., 
the Pythian brotherhood. Lodge No. 92, 
and Lodge No. 796, B. P. O. E., being a 
charter member of the latter society. His 
standing in the business world rests upon 
a sure foundation, as he is regarded today 
among the leading oil men of the country. 



Mr. Long has borne well his part in life, 
as his rise from poverty to his present posi- 
tion of affluence and prominence abundantly 
attests. 



HENRY C. McCOLLISTER. 

The career of the subject of this sketch 
forcibly illustrates the old axiom, "Where 
there is a will, there is a way." Becoming 
an independent factor in life at the early age 
of fourteen, with an empty pocket and no 
one to give him friendly counsel or advice, 
he resolutely faced the world and after a 
long and hard struggle, before which most 
young men would have retired in defeat, he 
finally succeeded in gaining a sure foothold 
and in time rose to the respectable position 
he now occupies. The name by which he is 
now known is not the one given him by his 
parents, but was assumed for a special rea- 
son. The family patronymic was Beabout 
and "by such he went until a youth in his 
teens. His father. Moses Beabout, was a 
native of Pennsylvania and his mother, 
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smallie, 
was born and reared in Mercer county, that 
state. The subject was born in the county 
of Mercer on the 28th of February, 1832, 
and remained under the parental roof until 
reaching the age of fourteen. Like many 
other youths, he became impatient of home 
restraint and for reasons which he cares not 
to explain decided to sever these ties and 
make his own way in the world. He car- 
ried this resolution into effect between two 
days and for fear his parents might appre- 
hend him, changed his name to McCollister 
and by this he has since been known. Mak- 
ing his way to Pittsburg, he there took a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



339 



boat for Cincinnati and after working at 
^•arious vocations in the latter place made his 
way to Clinton county, Ohio, where he 
worked for several years as a farm hand. 
He also found employment for a while in a 
saw-mill and later entered the service of a 
railroad as brakeman. He continued rail- 
roading for quite a while in various capaci- 
ties and in this and other kinds of work 
finally earned sufficient money to enable him, 
as he supposed, to support a wife. Accord- 
ingly, on the 23d of December, 1855, he 
was married in Clinton county, Ohio, to 
Elizabeth Smith, daughter of James T. and 
Lydia AI. (Wait) Smith, the father a native 
of Delaware and the mother of the Buckeye 
slate. 

After his marriage ]Mr. McCollister set- 
tled down in Clinton county for a couple of 
years, but being quite poor in this world's 
goods he experienced considerable difficulty 
in making a livelihood, to say nothing of lay- 
ing aside the little surplus for the proverbial 
rainy day. His principal work during his 
residence in Ohio was sawing lumber, but 
this kind of employment not proving re- 
munerative, he finally moved with his father- 
in-law to Jay county, Indiana. There he 
rented land and followed agricultural pur- 
suits until 1866, at which time his wife's 
father purchased forty acres of land in Wells 
county and to this place the subject moved 
in February of the same year. The onh' 
improvement on the place at that time was a 
small log cabin and into this I\Ir. McCollis- 
ter mo\-ed his little family, after which he 
addressed himself to the work of clearing the 
land. One year later he returned to Jay 
county, but continued to de\-ote his spare 
time working on his own place until he had 
all but ten acres in ailtivation. At the end 



of three years he again took up his residence 
on his own soil and bent every eflfort to make 
a comfortable home for those dependent 
upon him. He worked in a saw-mill to pay 
for the lumber for a new house, later built 
a fine barn and, being blessed with health 
and strength, his progress from that time on 
was altogether satisfactory. In the course 
of ten years he not only brought his own 
little farm to a fine state of cultivation, but 
purchased eighty acres of good land in the 
county of Jay, which in due time became 
quite valuable in that it lies within one of the 
richest of the Indiana oil fields. Subse- 
quently he transferred the latter farm to his 
son, but he still owns forty acres in Jay 
which, with his home in Wells, leaves him 
an estate of eighty acres, more than sufficient 
for his needs seeing that he received everv 
year a handsome income from the five pro- 
ducing oil wells on his land. 

Mr. McCollister has always been an in- 
dustrious, hard working man and many 
times the world looked dark and the future 
held out nothing in the way of promise. 
Of a sanguine temperament and inclined to 
make the most of circumstances, he never 
allowed himself to be cast dow^n or become 
discouraged, but always looked on the bright 
side in the firm belief that the goal of suc- 
cess would eventually be reached. The sum 
total of his earthly possessions at the time of 
marriage was a very limited supply of in- 
ferior household goods and a cow, but with 
the assistance of his brave hearted, faithful 
wife, who was his sunshine in days of ad- 
versity and firm support under all circum- 
stances, he patiently endured the frowns of 
ill fortune, gradually surmounted unfavor- 
able environment and at last reaped the re- 
ward of his labors and waiting in the com- 



340 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



fortable fortune which has placed him in in- 
dependent circumstances for the remainder 
of his days. Of recent years Mr. McCollis- 
ter has rented his land and lived a life of 
honorable retirement on the liberal income 
which he now receives. He enjoys his well 
earned rest as only such as he can and with 
his good wife is now bent upon filling up 
the measure of his days by helping his fel- 
low men and making the world better. Po- 
litically he is an earnest supporter of the Re- 
publican party and takes an active part in 
local and general public affairs, though 
never asking official position at the hands of 
his fellow citizens. Religiously he is a de- 
vout member of the United Brethren church, 
in which his wife is also a zealous and faith- 
ful worker. 

Mr. and Mrs. McCollister have had 
four children, only one of whom is liv- 
ing. The oldest of the family, James M., 
was born October 12, 1856, and died on the 
26th of September, 1878; William, born 
May 16, 1858, married Jane Straley and is 
the father of two sons and two daughters, 
viz: Martha M., James L., Wilber and 
Esther; Rebecca, whose birth occurred on 
the 14th of December, i860, married Allen 
Wall and departed this life August 8, 1887, 
leaving six children, namely: William, 
Moses, John H., Hattie, Oscar and Fran- 
cis, the last two deceased ; Ella was born on 
the 26th day of February, 1863, and died 
November 18, 1887. She was the wife of 
Samuel Alberson and the mother of three 
children, Sophronia A., Nellie J. and Lulu 
M., the second and third twins. 

In the foregoing brief account are em- 
bodied the salient features in the career of 
a man whose life abounds in many practical 
lessons for the young and rising genera- 



tion. He is essentially a self-made man and 
his success has resulted from industry, in- 
domitable perseverance and the habit of 
doing well everything which he found to do. 
Integrity and a high sense of honor are 
among his more pronounced characteristics, 
to which may be added good judgment, 
keenness of perception and a desire always 
to do as he would be done by, without which 
principle no man's life can be called success- 
ful. He has lived according to his high 
standard of manhood and is ready when the 
time comes to enter that mysterious bourne 
to which all humanity is tending. 



WILLIAM L. ENGLE. 

A stranger traveling through Wells 
county, noting how largely the people are 
interested in the oil business and the num- 
ber of producing wells to be encountered in 
any direction he might turn, would naturally 
suppose that it is through them that it re- 
ceived its name of Wells county. Such, 
however, is not the case. W'ells county ac- 
quired its title long before any of its inhabi- 
tants ever thought of becoming oil produc- 
ers. Nevertheless, the industry has added 
much to the wealth, comfort and happiness 
of that locality. One of the first to engage 
in the production of oil in Wells county was 
William L. Engle, of Geneva, Indiana, the 
subject of this sketch. He was born in Not- 
tingham township. Wells county, Septem- 
ber 19, i860. His father was Isaac Engle, 
a native of Warren county, Ohio. His 
grandparents were William and Lutitia 
Engle, natives of New Jersey, who, early 
in the last century, moved to Randolph 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



341 



county, Indiana. At this time Isaac Engle, 
father of Wilham, was a child of some eight 
years. The family resided in Indiana only 
about si.x years, when they again moved, 
this time locating in Warren county, Ohio. 
About the time he attained his majority, 
Isaac Engle was united in marriage to Miss 
Anna Hopkins, a native of Jay county, In- 
diana, and daughter of Hezekiah Hopkins. 
They went to Randolph county, Indiana, 
and, after a residence there of two years, 
mo\'ed to Wells county, where they pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in the woods. A log cabin was their first 
home and the clearing and cultivation of the 
land was their life-work. Here they con- 
tinued to reside up to the time of their deaths. 
]\Irs. Engle died March 7, 1891, and her 
husband survived her some five years, dying 
September 20, 1896. They were the parents 
of thirteen children, seven of whom are liv- 
ing. The dead are Prudence, Emma, Han- 
nah, Charles, Amanda and Richard ; the liv- 
ing. William L., R. M., James A., Martha 
A.. Daniel, Joseph C. and Arthur. 

William L. Engle attended the public 
schools of his native township until he was 
twenty years of age. He then took a course 
at the normal school at Bluffton and later at- 
tended school at Valparaiso. Having laid a 
good foundation by procuring a good liberal 
education, he sought and readily procured a 
license to engage in the profession of teach- 
ing. The next four years he spent in the 
schoolrooms of the township of his birth, 
engaged as an instructor. In this calling he 
was eminently successful, but soon found 
that the compensation was by no means com- 
mensurate with the care, labor and responsi- 
bility required. 

On September 28. 1883, William L. 



Engle was united in marriage to Mary A. 
Hilton, also a native of Nottingham town- 
ship and daughter of Daniel Hilton. Im- 
mediately thereafter he purchased one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of choice land, much of 
it cleared, and some of it under cultivation. 
Upon this he erected a comfortable home, a 
commodious barn and substantial outbuild- 
ings and began to devote himself to the call- 
ing of a husbandman and breeder of fine 
stock. Prospecting for oil about this time 
becoming fashionable, Mr. Engle was not 
long in catching the fever, in which he was 
abundantly favored by fortune. Well after 
well was sunk upon his premises, until at 
this time he has eight splendid producers and 
is now making arrangements for drilling a 
number of others. His income from this 
source was such as to justify him in getting 
out of the stock business, and he now breeds 
Shropshire sheep exclusively, his oil inter- 
ests not admitting of his doing more. In 
the fall of 1 89 1 he invested in a fine flock of 
thoroughbred Shropshire sheep and it is his 
purpose to engage quite extensively in the 
breeding of these animals, already having 
met with much success. Within a short time 
he hopes to be able to supply any reasonable 
demand \\'hich may be made upon him for 
choice specimens of these animals. To this 
business, as to every other in which he has 
engaged, Mr. Engle has given much patient 
study and there is little doubt that he will be 
as successful in this as he has been in each 
of the others. 

February 9. 1896, Mr. Engle married his 
second wife, Effie J. Judy, a native of Adams 
county, Indiana. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Church of Christ, in which ]\Ir. 
Engle is and has been for four years an 
elder. In politics he has always been a Re- 



342 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



publican, but is especially zealous on behalf 
of his party during political campaigns. His 
career is ample evidence that, despite all 
we hear about trusts, there are still many 
avenues to fame and fortune open to the 
poor, but ambitious, persevering and worthy 
youths of the land. 



G. B. SCHOTT. 



The story of the life of men who from 
the smallest and most insignificant begin- 
ning have accomplished much in the way of 
accumulating property and rearing in com- 
fort, even in luxury, large families, is al- 
ways encouraging to others beginning at the 
bottom round of the ladder of life with 
little more than good health and a deter- 
mined purpose out of which to carve suc- 
cess. Such a life story is that of G. B. 
Schott, of Domestic, Indiana. 

Born in Logan county, Ohio, on the I2th 
day of April, 1841, of German parentage, 
the greater part of his busy life has been 
spent within a few hundred miles of his 
birth place. His parents were both natives 
of Byron, Germany, the father, George 
Schott, emigrating to America when he was 
seventeen years of age. He was by trade a 
baker and worked at the business five years 
in the city of New York, where he landed. 
The maiden name of the mother of the sub- 
ject of this sketch was Margaretta Bowman, 
and she came to New York with her parents 
when quite young. Being from the same 
place in the Fatherland, the young people 
were not long in becoming acquainted and 
they were not long acquainted until they de- 
termined upon a closer and more sacred re- 



lationship. After an industrious residence 
of five years in America, George felt that he 
had accumulated enough to justify him in 
taking the important step in life. He was 
married in New York city and immediately 
determining to anticipate the advice of 
Horace Greeley to "go west and grow up 
with the country;" he did so, settling in Lo- 
gan county, Ohio. He there engaged in 
farming, prospering year after year, and in 
addition being blessed by the birth of a 
number of robust, healthy and vigorous 
sons. About the year 1844 he moved his 
family to Lorain county, Ohio, where he 
resided until his death, at the ripe age 
of eighty-four years, September i, 1902. 
His good wife, Margaretta, continued to 
bless her family with motherly care and af- 
fection until 1 86 1, when she bade farewell 
to earth and was gathered to her fathers. 

George and Margaretta Schott were the 
])arents of four children, all of whom are 
living: G. B., the subject; Peter, a resident 
of Wells county, Indiana; John B., who has 
lived for many years in Missouri, and Henry 
F., whose residence is in Lorain county, 
Ohio. 

During the years of his boyhood G. B. 
Schott attended the district schools of 
Lorain county. He became very proficient 
in all the common school branches then 
taught, continuing in the task of acquiring 
an education until he was twenty years of 
age. The next year all his time was devoted 
to work on his father's farm, when he en- 
tered the employ of Dr. Underbill, of La- 
grange, Ohio, taking entire charge and hav- 
ing full and unrestricted control of the Doc- 
tor's farm. At this time the war of the 
Rebellion was in progress in all its fury, and 
few youths with spirit enough to be worthy 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



343 



of mention could content themselves at 
home, away from the scene of active hostili- 
ties. In the fall of 1862 G. B. Schott en- 
listed in Company D, Huffman's Batallion, 
which afterwards became the One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volun- 
teers. He saw much active service during 
the two years and nine months of his soldier- 
ing, continuing in the ranks until mustered 
out at the close of the Rebellion. 

The life of the average soldier is not 
particularly favorable to the accumulation 
of money. On returning from the front to 
his home in Ohio, G. B. Schott found him- 
self worse off financially than he was some 
three years before. Possessed of health and 
vigorous constitution, despite the exposure 
of his life at the fronts he turned his atten- 
tion to the first labor that offered itself. It 
was the season of the year when sheep were 
to be sheared and good wages were to be 
made by any one who could deftly and skill- 
fully handle the clippers. While the season 
lasted the ex-soldier occupied his time in re- 
lieving sheep of their winter fleeces and 
when nothing more was to be done in that 
Ime he found himself in possession of a lit- 
tle ready money. With this he moved to 
Wells county, Indiana, settled in the woods, 
built a small log cabin and began the clear- 
ing of the fine, productive farm upon which 
he now lives. 

Decem.ber i, 1865, Mr. Schott was 
united in marriage to Miss Hannah Keller, 
a native of Medina county, Ohio, and daugh- 
ter of Daniel Keller, who had emigrated to 
America from Wittenburg, Germany. To 
his humble cabin in the woods Mr. Schott 
brought his blushing bride soon after their 
marriage. The market value of all their 
worldly possessions could then be covered 



by a very few dollars, one horse lieing the 
sum and substance of their entire live stock. 
The furniture of their home was of the 
rudest and most primitive character. To il- 
lustrate: the bed upon which he slept was 
constructed of poles, fastened to the logs in 
one corner of the cabin. Upon these a straw 
tick was placed, which, with the usual cover- 
ing, formed a couch that would not be en- 
tirely to the fancy of many young people of 
the present day. Yet, it is safe to say, Mr. 
and Mrs. Schott now look back upon those 
days of unremitting toil and nights of re- 
freshing repose and hail them as the happiest 
of their lives. About half an acre, which he 
planted in potatoes, was all he had cleared 
on his own place the first year, but he rented 
and cultivated land on the farm of a neigh- 
bor, Thomas Williams. This he continued 
to do for two years, by which time he had 
enough of tillable land on his own place to 
occupy his time and attention. About this 
time his brother Peter, who was a carpenter 
and quite handy with edge tools of all kinds, 
came to live with the young couple. He 
was possessed of a little ready money which 
did much to relieve the pinching poverty, 
and with two men in the woods, where only 
one had toiled before, the tract of land soon 
began to take on all the appearance of a pro- 
ductive, well-kept farm. At this time pro- 
visions of all kind were inordinately high. 
A fair quality of flour brought fifteen dol- 
lars a barrel and other articles were in pro- 
portion. It need not therefore shock the 
reader to learn that what constituted the 
staff of life for most people in poor or mod- 
ern circumstances was nothing more nor 
less than good, old-fashioned, home-made 
corn bread. This, with genuine maple 
syrup, made in abundance by nearly every 



344 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



family in the locality, formed the basis of 
quite palatable and enjoyable meals. 

About this time the almost criminal 
waste of the finest timber, thousands of feet 
of splendid logs being rollied together in 
heaps and consumed b}' fire to get them out 
of the way, induced the Schott brothers to 
invest in and operate a saw-mill. This they 
did about 1869 and continued in the busi- 
ness of manufacturing lumber until a few 
years ago. During the years they were in 
business they turned out from their mill 
millions of feet of hickory, ash and black 
walnut lumber, for which they always found 
a most ready sale. 

At the present time G. B. Schott is the 
owner of two hundred and forty acres of as 
fine land as can be found in the state. 
Eighty acres of this is the old home place 
on which he first settled, the other one hun- 
dred and sixty having been purchased since. 
Upon this land are eleven producing and 
productive oil wells, which alone make a 
very comfortable income for their owner. 
Back in 1883 a splendid home with modern 
conveniences was erected on the farm and in 
1890 Mr. Schott built a large barn that is 
a model of convenience. This was neces- 
sary to accommodate the pure bred stock of 
cattle, hogs and shee]), in the rearing of 
which he is engaged. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schott are the parents of 
three children, Henry C, Sarah and Lillie. 
Sarah has been a teacher in the public 
schools for a number of years and Lillie is 
the wife of Dr. Runnels, of Montpelier, 
Indiana. The latter are the parents of one 
child, a promising little daughter, named 
Grace. Mr. and Mrs. Schott are both mem- 
bers of the New Light church, and are active 
and zealous in all Christian work. Mr. 



Schott is a member of John P. Porter Post, 
G. A. R., of Geneva, is a firm believer in 
the principles of the Republican party and 
always votes the way he believes. This year 
he \\'as elected a delegate to the state conven- 
tion of his party and on two occasions here- 
tofore was honored with the nomination for 
county commissioner from his district. But 
Wells county is too well supplied with 
Democratic ^•oters to permit many Republi- 
cans to feast at the official crib, so Mr. 
Schott. as he expected, was defeated each 
time. There are, without doubt, many men 
in this country who have accomplished more 
during the span of their business career than 
has Mr. Schott, but certainly there are not 
many who, with such limited resources as he 
had at his command in the beginning, have 
excelled or even equalled him. 



JOHN M. BECK 



John M. Beck was born in \\'estmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, ]May 17. 1839. His 
father, Mathias Beck, was a native of Wur- 
temberg, Germany, and the son of a furrier. 
He had received only a common German edu- 
cation, as his father was unable to give him 
the advantage of the higher training. Being 
a cripple, he was not compelled to serve in 
the army, as was his more able bodied as- 
sociates, and was thus nurtured in a less hardy 
but purer atmosphere. He was married to 
Miss Rosanna Haley, and in order to secure 
a better home sold his possessions and came 
to America in 1830. settling in Westmore- 
land county, Penns3dvania, where he pur- 
chased a small farm. He remained in 
Pennsylvania eight years and then came to 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



345 



Indiana, settling at Fort Wayne. About 
184 1 he came to Wells count_v and bought 
two hundred and forty acres of land in the 
woods where he built one of the finest houses 
in this part of Wells count}-. This home, 
which was then considered little less than a 
mansion, was a large iiewed-log house of 
three rooms below and one above. Mr. Beck 
was a man of energy and was among those 
to encourage improvements, lending his aid 
to all movements for the benefit of his com- 
munity. He was a Democrat and a member 
of the German Lutheran church. He was 
the father of eight children, four of whom 
grew to maturity. John M. ; and Anna M. 
wife of Henry Foreman, at one time a 
furrier of Adams county, but now a retired 
farmer, are the only ones living. 

John M. Beck came with his parents to 
W^ells county when he was two and one- 
half years old and has since spent his entire 
life in this section. He received a common 
education in the country schools and 
spent his hours out of school working for 
his father, whom he assisted until he 
was twenty-seven years old. In Decem- 
ber, 1866, he married Miss Mary Mil- 
ler, whose parents came from Stark 
county, Ohio, and established a home of his 
own. This lady died in 1874 and the follow- 
ing year he married Miss Melissa J. Bennet, 
of Washington county, Iowa. She was ed- 
ucated in the Washingt(?n Academy, had 
been a teacher in Iowa and also in Wells 
county. Mr. Beck worked his father's farm 
for some years and two years later bought the 
old homestead, containing one hundred and 
forty acres, in the northeast part of Wells 
county. Being a careful manager and a 
progressive farmer, he has made money, 
being now considered one of the successful 



farmers and stock raisers of the community. 
By his first ^-ife he was the father of four 
children, viz : William M., who married Miss 
M. N. Snarr, is a farmer in Jefferson town- 
ship; Charles M., who married Miss Anna 
Bowers, is engaged in the hardware business 
at Fort Wayne; Rosa E. is the wife of Fred 
Tracy, of St. Joseph county, and Mary 
L. is the wife of M. E. Spencer, of Ossian. 
The present Mrs. Beck is the mother of two 
children, viz: Nora C. is the wife of Prof. 
I. C. Hamilton, a graduate of the State LTni- 
versity at Bloomington and a student of the 
Chicago University, both having taught in 
the Wells county schools; Ira D. W.. who is 
assisting his father on the farm. 

The subject of this sketch was formerly 
a member of the Democratic party and in 
his younger days he was an active worker in 
its ranks, though he now holds warm 
sympathy for the principles of the Prohi- 
bition movement, which he supports with his 
ballot. He is one of the most progressive 
and influential farmers in Jefferson town- 
ship and is known far and wide as an honest, 
upright, honorable citizen. 



WILLIAM DUNWIDDIE. 

Few of the men who joined the army 
during the Civil war and remained out any 
length of time returned very much impro\'ed 
financially. The precarious existence of a 
soldier, with the chance staring him in the 
face of having even that existence cut short 
at any moment, is not calculated to develop 
principles of either prudence or economy. 
\\'ho that is daily facing death in various 
forms cares to lay away money that, per- 



346 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



chance, strangers may have the pleasure of 
spending? Hence tlie soldier spent while 
he had it to spend and Avas just as happy 
when "broke" as when he had abundance. A 
few there were, liowever, who held to a firm 
hope of being able to live another day and 
at another time when the devastation of 
war would no longer ravage the land. They 
practiced the virtues of peace amidst the dis- 
solution of war, and while most of their 
comrades returned poor indeed, they had 
oftentimes more than enough to supply im- 
mediate necessities. William Dunwiddie, 
of Nottingham township, Wells county. In- 
diana, the subject of this sketch, was such 
a soldier. He spent much as the others did, 
but he managed to save enough to enable 
him to purchase forty acres of land on his 
return from the front. 

William Dunwiddie was born in Warren 
county, Ohio, December 29. 1842. His pa- 
ternal grandparents were John and Ruth 
(Betts) Dunwiddie, the former born in 
Delaware in 1781 and the latter in New Jer- 
sey in 1785. His father was Peter Dun- 
widdie, a native of Greene county, Ohio, 
born April 5, 18 16. His wife, the mother 
of the subject, was Eunice Haines, a native 
of Warren county, born September 20, 181 7. 
They were married September i, 1836, and 
continued to reside in the county of their 
nativity until 1855, when they moved with 
their family to Wells county, Indiana. He 
was a minister of the gospel, but was much 
as those to whom he administered spiritual 
and religious consolation, having little more 
than enough to provide material sustenance 
for themselves. Thus he was obliged to oc- 
cupy his time during the week on the farm, 
preaching at least twice each Sunday. To 
them eleven children were born, viz : John 



H., born September 12, 1837, died May 26, 
1843; Hannah G., born August i, 1839, de- 
ceased: Brook C., born August 24, 1841, 
died November 5, 1872; William, the sub- 
ject, who will hereafter be referred to more 
particularly ; Matilda, born October 25, 
1844, deceased; John, born April 25, 1846, 
deceased ; Jacob, born September 23, 1847, 
deceased; Harrison B., born June 16, 1849, 
a resident of Reiffsburg; Mary E., born 
August 5, 1853, deceased; David, born 
March 25, 1855, died in infancy; Susan B., 
born November 2t,. 1857, wife of Sylvester 
Pontius ; Brooks C. served four years during 
the war in Company E, Fortieth Indiana 
Regiment; John served two years in the 
same company and regiment, and William 
was out three years, three months and five 
days during the same eventful period. John 
Dunwiddie, their paternal grandfather, 
served in the United States army during the 
war of 18 12. The parents of these children 
are both dead. 

William Dunwiddie received his educa- 
tion partly in Warren county, Ohio, and 
partly in Benton county. Indiana, whither 
he had gone and where he resided a number 
of years previous to the Civil war. When 
but nineteen years of age, in the early part of 
the war, in Oxford, Benton county, Indiana, 
he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-ninth In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry. Few regiments 
participated in more of the important battles 
of the war than did the Ninety-ninth In- 
diana. With his regiment, the subject fol- 
lowed the flag in the following engagements : 
Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Mission 
Ridge, the Knoxville campaign, Rocky Face 
Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Atlanta, July 22 and 28, Jonesboro, Love- 
joy Station, Fort McAllister, Savannah, Co- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'^NA. 



347 



lunibia. Goldsboro and Raleigh. On the 
march to tlie sea William Dunwiddie was 
one of those detailed to do the foraging for 
the other members of the company. Food 
had to be gotten and it was at times so dif- 
ficult to provide that his ingenuity was often 
taxed to the utmost to find the supply of 
live stock, grain and provisions which the 
owners had hidden away. He was always 
so successful that his admiring comrades 
gave him a number of pet names which were 
neither euphonious nor pretty and which it 
is unnecessar}^ to mention here. During the 
entire term of his service he was not off duty 
more than three weeks and that was on ac- 
count of sickness. At the close of the war 
the regiment went to Washington City, 
where they took part in the grand review and 
where they were mustered out. The old 
flag they bore through many a battle was 
so torn and rent by shot and shell and soiled 
by the blood of its brave defenders that a 
new one was procurred in Washington on 
which was emblazoned a list of the battles 
in which the regiment took part, but when 
brought out it elicited no enthusiasm what- 
ever, the boys preferring the old tattered 
banner the}- had followed so long and so 
faithfully. It was brought out amid the 
cheers of its defenders and it and the regi- 
ment formed a very conspicuous portion of 
that historic parade. During its time of 
service the regiment traveled thirty-three 
hundred and ninety-eight miles, which does 
not include the steps taken by the subject in 
his foraging expeditions. All this was ac- 
complished on foot except a few hundred 
miles by rail and transport. 

For two years after William Dunwiddie"s 
return from the war he worked for his 
father, receiving as compensation only his 



board and clothes. \\'ith what little he was 
able to save during the days of his soldier- 
ing he bought forty acres of land, the same 
on which his brother-in-law, Mark Watson, 
now resides. For a year he worked in a 
saw-mill in western Indiana, then returned 
to Wells county and began clearing his land. 
The last hundred dollars he owed on the 
place he paid out of his earnings in the 
saw-mill. September 3, 1868, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Watson, 
a native of Adams county, Indiana, born 
February 19, 1846. Her parents were John 
and Margaret Watson, natives of England 
and early settlers of Adams county, but both 
are now deceased. Six children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Watson, viz : Sarah, de- 
ceased ; Wesley died in the army during the 
Civil war; Mary J., wife of William Dun- 
widdie, the subject; Joseph, now a resident 
of Adams county; Phoebe C, wife of S. W. 
Skeels, now resides in Michigan ; Ruth, wife 
of ^^'illiam Heaston, of Geneva. 

At the time of the marriage, a log cabin 
and fifteen acres cleared were all the im- 
provements that had been made on the forty 
acres which Mr. Dunwiddie owned. How- 
ever,, they took up their abode in the log 
cabin and cultivated and improved the place 
for one year, when they rented the 
Josephus Marlin farm in Adams county. 
They remained there only one year, when 
the}- returned to Wells county, bought the 
west eighty acres of the old homestead, and 
proceeded to build a house thereon. In the 
meantime he had sold the first forty acres he 
had purchased, to his brother-in-law, Mark 
Watson, who is yet the owner and occupant 
thereof. On the new tract he had purchased 
he was obliged to incur an indebtedness of 
sixteen hundred dollars. At the time it 



348 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



was bought the only improvements there 
were on the place was fifteen acres cleared. 
It is now all cleared but thirty acres, well 
ditched, fenced and provided with lasting 
and substantial improvements. He has 
purchased another eighty acres immediately 
adjoining, which gives him one hundred and 
sixty acres of fine farming land in one com- 
pact body. On this land are six producing 
oil wells, from which he now realizes about 
eighteen dollars per month, though there 
was a time when much more was realized 
on the output. 

To Mr. and IMrs. William Dunwiddie 
five children have been born, viz: Clara E., 
born in Adams county, January 24, 1871, 
wife of Jacob Bierrie; P. W., born in Wells 
county, September 27. 1873, married Hattie 
Brown, has one son, Harry, and resides in 
Adams county; Margaret J., born in Wells 
county July 30. 1876, married Lawrence 
Watson and they are residents of Notting- 
ham township ; Ruth E., born in Wells coun- 
ty, Augaist 8. 1 879, resides with her parents ; 
Benjamin H., born in Wells county, Janu- 
ary 27, 1882, is at home with his parents. 
Each have received a good common school 
education. Clara is a graduate of the Geneva 
high school and taught a number of terms, 
until compelled by failing health to cease. 

Mr. Dunwiddie has unlimited faith in 
the American hog. He believes that if 
properly handled it will pay more debts for 
its owner than any other animal. He as- 
serts that its capabilities for swelling a bank 
account are unrivaled and devotes his entire 
time to farming and stock raising. With 
Poland China hogs, shorthorn cattle and a 
general class of sheep, his farm is constantlv 
well stocked. All but two and a half years 
of his married life have been spent upon hia 



present farm and his present prosperous 
condition indicates clearly the success he has 
attained. 

The family are all members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, except the hus- 
band and father. While having no ill will 
whatever toward religion, he is not con- 
nected with any denomination. He is a 
member of John P. Porter Post No. 83, G. 
A. R., of Geneva. In politics he is a Re- 
publican, has always been an active worker 
in the party and is recognized as a man of 
standing and influence in his locality, being 
generally a delegate in the conventions of 
his party. From an exceedingly small be- 
ginning he has accomplished far more than 
many others with better opportunities, which 
speaks well for the native merit of the man. 



WILLIAM E. BOWMAN. 

The average yearly accumulation of the 
American working man, in dollars and cents, 
is not large. The great majority find it im- 
possible to make any saving whatever. There 
are, however, a few who manage to lay 
aside a little and by its assistance, after 
years of privation, self-denial and the for- 
tunate investment of their hoardings, man- 
age to secure a competency. Few are able 
to accomplish what William E. Bowman, 
the subject of this sketch, did in seven years. 
With his own labor and that of a team of 
horses on a rented farm, he managed to pay 
expenses and save, in a period of seven years, 
the sum of three thousand eight hundred 
dollars, an average saving of about five 
hundred and forty-three dollars a year. 

William E. Bowman was born Novem- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



349 



ber 22, 1 86 1, in Stark county, Ohio. He is 
tlie son of Adam and Charlotte (Shick) 
Bowman, natives of Ohio, where they re- 
sided on a farm up to the time they moved 
to Elkhart county, Lidiana. Later they 
moved into Harrison township, Wells 
county, where they have resided ever since. 
They were the parents of ten children, all 
of whom are living, viz : Charles, a resident 
of Elkhart: Samuel, a resident of Elkhart; 
'William E.. the subject of this sketch: Anna, 
wife of Philip Househoulder, resides in 
Harrison township; John, a resident of 
Blufifton; Henry, a resident of Bluffton; 
Frank, a resident of Elkhart ; Adam, 
a resident of Cass county, Michigan; Ida, 
wife of James Cherry, of Bluffton ; Edward, 
a resident of Bluffton. 

When William E. Bowman was old 
enough to attend school he was more for- 
tunate than many who preceded him. in 
having good schools, comfortable school 
buildings, model text books and efificient 
teachers. He attended school in Harrison 
township each winter until he was eighteen 
years of age and profited by the instruction 
he received. He then began working for 
wages, making his home, however, with his 
parents. Up to the time of his marriage he 
worked by the day, week, month or job as 
he was able to secure employment. He was 
prudent and provident. He knew how he 
got his money and very little of it escaped 
from him without bringing him some re- 
turns. On the day of his marriage he was 
the owner of a good team of horses, a wagon 
and one hundred and ninety dollars in 
money. 

On the 22nd day of March, 1889, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Rachael 
Funk, a daughter of Absalom and Mar- 



garet A. (Bower) Funk, well-to-do resi- 
dents of Wells county. Immediately after 
marriage the young people took up their 
residence on the Funk farm, where they re- 
sided for six j-ears. He worked with his 
team and at such jobs as he could procure, 
doing only enough farming to procure feed 
for his team. After trying this for six 
years he discovered that there was little in 
it more than a bare living. This determined 
him to change his policy. He rented the 
Sol DeLong farm in Harrison township 
and devoted himself assiduously to the man- 
agement of that farm for seven years. At 
the end of that time he had saved enough 
money to justify him in purchasing an 
eighty-acre tract of land of his own. He 
selected a nice piece of land and bought it, 
paying three thousand eight hundred dollars 
cash for it, every dollar of which he accumu- 
lated during the seven years he had been liv- 
ing on rented farm. March i, 1901, he took 
up his residence on his new purchase and be- 
gan improving the land. Since then he has 
ditched, fenced and cleared this land, making 
it a most valuable farm. He carries on 
general farming, raising grain, hav, vege- 
tables and stock of all kinds. He gives his 
preference to shorthorn cattle, but considers 
the cross between the Poland China and 
Berkshire the most desirable in hogs. The 
greater part of his farm is now under culti- 
vation. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman four 
children have been born, Carrie, Cora, Hugh 
and Bert. Mrs. Bowman is a member of 
the German Reformed church, a regular at- 
tendant upon its services and a liberal con- 
tributor to its support. Mr. Bowman is a 
member of Washington Council No. 5, 
Order of United American Mechanics, of 
Bluffton, is an active member and much in- 



350 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



terested in tlie work. In politics he is a Re- 
publican, sufficiently liberal to accord to 
others the privilege he takes to himself, that 
of voting for whom he pleases. He and his 
brother-in-law, John Funk, have just re- 
turned from an extensive trip through the 
principal large cities of the east, where they 
saw much that was entertaining, instructive 
and amusing. They visited Atlantic City, 
Philadelphia, Jersey City, New York City, 
Brooklyn, Baltimore and Washington City, 
taking in all places of interest in each, return- 
ing by way of Cincinnati. The industry, 
prudence and thrift of Mr. Bowman is most 
commendable, all the more so because 
neither selfish nor parsimonious, but he 
■wants to see proper, legitimate return for 
every dollar he expects. If all good citizens 
were equally careful in money matters, the 
latter days of many good men and women 
would not be, as they frequently are, em- 
bittered by poverty. 



JOSEPH AWKERMAN. 

One of the bravest ex-soldiers of the 
Civil war and now a respected resident of 
Liberty Center, Wells county, Indiana, is 
Joseph Awkerman, who was born in Wayne 
county, Ohio, October i, 1839. His father, 
also named Joseph, was a native of Berne, 
Switzerland, came to America when still 
quite young, and married at a proper age 
Miss Mary Osenbaugh, a native of North- 
ampton county, Pennsylvania. He was 
called away, however, when but twenty-eight 
years of age, leaving Joseph, the subject 
proper of this sketch, then but three months 
old, to the care of his mother, who died 



when the son was only three and a half years 
of age. 

Joseph Awkerman, Sr., at the death of 
his mother was placed in the care of a so- 
called guardian, who never even furnished 
the child with a pair of shoes nor clothing 
enough to cover him decently. The case 
was so aggravated a one that the boy was 
persuaded to run away from his guardian 
by a friend who had secured a home for him, 
where his services were rewarded with good 
board and clothes and five dollars in cash 
per year, that is, the equivalent of five 
American dollars. He was an industrious 
and faithful lad, always found plenty of 
work to do, and as he grew older his pay 
was increased proportionately. The last 
year he worked in Switzerland he received 
twelve dollars per month, but the next year, 
when he demanded thirteen dollars, his de- 
mand was refused. About this time he was 
informed that there was a party being made 
up for migration to America and he de- 
cided to join it. In 18 17 he landed in New 
York, but for some reason he and his fel- 
low passengers were reshipped on the same 
vessel to Philadelphia, where he was landed 
with no funds whatever. A kind stranger, 
becoming aware of the fact, furnished the 
young Switzer with four dollars and with 
this sum the latter paid his passage to Pitts- 
burg, near which city he secured work on 
a farm, and remained thereon for two years. 
From Pennsylvania Mr. Awkerman re- 
moved to Ohio and for a while worked on 
a farm in Columbiana county, and later in 
a grist-mill for the same employer. He had 
made up his mind to come further west, 
when a proposition was made to him to 
clear up a fifteen-acre tract, a certain quan- 
tity of land to be given him as pay for his 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



351 



labor. But he heard that land could be 
had from the government further west at 
a much lower figxire, and he accordingly 
gathered together all his available means and 
went to Wayne county, Ohio, where he en- 
tered eighty acres in the forest. There Mr. 
Awkerman built a cabin in which he lived 
alone four years, and then, about 1827, mar- 
ried Mary Osenbaugh, a daughter of Henry 
Osenbaugh, of Pennsylvania. 

Mary Osenbaugh was but fourteen years 
of age when her parents came from the east 
and first located in Fairfield county, Ohio, 
whence they removed to Wayne county, 
Ohio, where Henry Osenbaugh and wife 
passed the remainder of their days. After 
marriage Joseph and Mary (Osenbaugh) 
Awkerman settled on the farm he had en- 
tered, and there had eleven children born to 
them, namely: A daughter, who died in in- 
fancy; Sarah, who died when seven years 
old ; Elizabeth, who died at three ; Cather- 
ine, widow of David Shreiner, of Medina 
county, Ohio; Susanna, deceased wife of 
William H. Funk, of Blufifton, Indiana; 
John, of Medina county, Ohio; Anna, de- 
ceased ; Joseph, whose name opens this biog- 
raphy; Lovina, deceased; Rachael, wife of 
Levi Cross, of Michigan; and Henry, who 
has his residence also in Medina county, 
Ohio. Joseph Awkerman, the father of the 
above enumerated children, passed away 
November 23, 1863, and the mother Novem- 
ber IS, 1877. 

Joseph Awkerman, of this sketch, at- 
tended the district schools in Wayne county, 
Ohio, until twenty-one years of age and then 
worked at carpentering until the summer of 
1862, when he enlisted, August 9. in Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Second Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, in which he served 



three years. He never had a part in any, 
very severe battle, but participated in many 
lively skirmishes and was in one siege of 
four days' duration. He was honorably 
mustered out June 30, 1865, and Mr. 
Awkerman stoutly maintains that his com- 
pany never was conquered until it reached 
Todd's Barrack, at Columbus, Ohio, where 
it was completely routed by bed bugs and 
compelled to sleep in the yard. 

When Mr. Awkerman reached his home, 
he found that his father had passed away, 
and his mother was just preparing for har- 
vesting. Joseph therefore passed the re- 
mainder of the season in working for her 
and her neighbors, and the next year worked 
at his trade all summer. In the spring 
of 1867 he came to Liberty township, Wells 
county, Indiana, and in just two years and 
four days after arriving here purchased the 
farm of eighty acres on which he now lives 
and for which he paid nine hundred dollars, 
of which amount three hundred dollars was 
in cash ; for the balance, he gave three notes, 
of two hundred dollars respectively, at 
twelve, twenty-four and thirty-six months, 
two of which notes he paid promptly when 
due, but the third he was thirty-three dollars 
short just at the time, but made it all right 
in a few days. After purchasing his farm, 
Mr. Awkerman continued to work at his 
trade in summer and in a saw-mill and at 
other kind of labor in winter, and thus 
was able to earn the means with which to 
pay for his farm, continuing to work in the 
same manner for ten years. 

Mr. Awkerman was united in marriage, 
February i, 1877, at St. Mary's, Ohio, with 
Miss Cynthia B. Bireley, who was born in 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 8, 
1837, a daughter of Lewis and Mary Eire- 



352 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ley, the former of whom was born in Mary- 
land, and the latter in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania. Cynthia B., the daughter of 
this respected and honored couple, was but 
seven years of age when taken to Ohio by 
her parents, who settled in Miami county, 
where she grew to maturity. There were 
fi\'e children in the Bireley family, born in 
the following order ; Elnora, now deceased ; 
Rebecca ; William, deceased : Susan, de- 
ceased, and Cyntliia B., now Mrs. Awker- 
man. At his marriage, Mr. Awkerman be- 
gan housekeeping in a log cabin, eighteen by 
twenty-four feet in dimension on the ground 
floor, with two rooms upstairs. They had 
made some bed clothing, on "the sly," and 
Mrs. Awkerman brought the bed, the chairs, 
a rocker, a cupboard, a table and several 
other little articles of household furniture. 
Mr. Awkerman had no team at that time, 
but in the following November bought two 
horses and a wagon and began farming, 
relinquishing carpenter work as much as pos- 
sible. Two or three years after marriage, 
on one occasion, Mr. Awkerman found him- 
self to be rather hard pressed for cash, but 
was told by his wife that it was absolutely 
necessary to have flour. The young hus- 
band was somewhat nonplussed, but put a 
bold face on and went to Poneta and se- 
cured some flour from John Penrod on 
credit, this being the only time in his life 
that he was really "hard up." 

Mr. Awkerman continued farming until 
1884, when he succuml)e<l to ill health con- 
tracted in the army and was unable to do 
any work until the middle of October fol- 
lowing. L'p to this attack of sickness every 
thing on the farm had worked auspiciously, 
but he was compelled to rent his farm and 
retire to Poneto. His. residence in the town 



had a continuance of three years, but in the 
second year of this period he secured, in 
recognition of his military service, a pen- 
sion of sixteen dollars per month and back 
pay for eighteen months, and this sum put 
him out of debt, nor does he owe any man 
a dollar. In 1887 Mr. Awkerman returned 
to his farm, over which he still keeps su- 
pervision, but rents cut the arable portion 
to John Wineland. The farm is improved 
with a handsome dwel'ing, a good barn, and 
one thousand one hundred and fifty rods of 
tiling, and with the exception of seven acres 
is all cleared off and under cultivation. 

Mr. Awkerman is a member of the 
Dunkard church and Mrs. Awkerman is a 
member of the Methodist Protestant, and 
of the former he is a member of the building 
committee and a trustee. In politics Mr. 
Awkerman is a Republican, but was reared 
a Democrat, and the change was brought by 
the first slave he ever saw and who preached 
Democracy out of him. Mr. and Mrs. 
Awkerman are among the most respected of 
the residents of Liberty Center, and for his 
present elevated position Mr. Awkerman 
does not hesitate to award to his faithful 
helpmate a full share of praise and credit. 



JAMES H. KEEPER. 

This young, talented and energetic 
editor and proprietor of the Weekly 
News, published at Ossian, Indiana, was 
born in Maysville, Allen county, Indiana, 
February 11, 1869, and is descended from 
parents in whose veins the blood of the 
Pennsylvania Germans largely predomi- 
nated. He secured the elements of an 




JAS. H. KEEFER. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



353 



education in Maysville at the common 
schools and the completion of his studies 
was accomplished through self application 
to books, travel and close observation of 
men and things as they passed before his 
mental and physical vision. He was of 
•an inventive turn of mind in his youthful 
days and a year of labor in a printing office 
taught him the details of the profession, 
although he had intended to follow an en- 
tirely different line of life work. At the 
age of twenty he entered into the whole- 
sale butchering and meat business at 
Maysville, but in 1885 Swift & Company, 
of Chicago, had monopolized the trade by 
underselling the local dealers. Mr. Keefer 
then turned his genius to newspaper work 
and how well he succeeded will be found 
in a sketch of the Ossian News. The Os- 
sian Weekly Telephone was founded by 
DuBoise & Huffman, but dragged along 
a sickly existence of a few weeks only, 
when a \It. Lipes started a job-printing 
])lant with a view of founding another 
journal, which never materialized. In 
December, 1890, Mr. Keefer secured a 
meager five-hundred-dollar equipment and 
began the issue of the Ossian News. 
The quarters were too small and in Feb- 
ruary. 1 89 1, he moved his estabhshment 
into the north room of the Ossian House. 
His determination to win overcame the 
doubts and prejudices of those who had 
been "gold bricked" by the Weekly Tele- 
phone, and soon subscriptions began to 
come in, and advertising to boom. In 
April, 1 89 1, seeking larger quarters, Mr. 
Keefer moved into the upstairs rooms of 
the old postofifice building, where he had 
his living rooms as well. The News re- 
mained there until increased prosperity in- 



duced the proprietor to build his pres- 
ent office, to which he moved in April, 
1893. The paper at the start was a four- 
column quarto, but in three weeks its 
size was increased to a five-column quarto, 
two pages being printed at home, the rest 
being "ready-print" from the Fort Wayne 
Newspaper Union. This continued a 
year, when Mr. Keefer began to print four 
pages at home. January i, 1898, the News 
changed dress to brevier and showed 
further improvements, making its appear- 
ance "pasted and trimmed" in its present 
neat and attractive form. Recently a 
large Jones-Gordon press and a service- 
able low-power gas engine were added, 
the equipment costing about twenty-five 
hundred dollars. The job printing facili- 
ties of the plant are equal — indeed super- 
ior — to any other in the county. The 
News itself is a bright, tasty, readable 
weekly, a mirror which reflects the life of 
the community, its carefully prepared 
news columns being now considered au- 
thority on local matters. It finds its way 
into nearly every home in this section of 
Wells county and has become almost a 
household necessity. Its news and edi- 
torial articles are written in a crisp, catchy 
style, such talent as that of C. A. Carpen- 
ter adding zest and pith to its columns 
and making it the favorite paper in hun- 
dreds of families. 

In December, 1902, The News added 
a zinc etching plant by which it is enabled to 
present to its readers a line of interesting • 
cartoons that materially enhance the value 
of the paper both from a reading and an ad- 
vertising standpoint. A 20th centun,- souv- 
enir volume of Ossian, with an edition of 
two thousand copies, was issued by the News 



354 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and received encomiums of praise from lead- 
ing editors throughout the country. 

In 1902 James H. Keefer was chosen 
by the building committee of the new 
Presbyterian church to superintend the 
erection of the fine sixteen-thousand-dol- 
lar edifice and so satisfactory were his ef- 
forts that the building is without a peer 
when compared with other church edifices 
of the same cost. Following is a list of 
the members of this committee : L. F. Wil- 
son, chairman, Jas. H. Keefer, W. H. Rup- 
right, A. I'. Roe. G. A. Morton, Rev. E. 
P. Gilchrist. Jas. H. Keefer was tacitly 
looked upon as a man whose critical pow- 
ers would be of service and indeed he was 
of much valuable assistance, for the en- 
tire committee deferred frequently to his 
judgment in weighty matters. 



JOHN W. RINEAR. 

The versatile man is not proven by the 
many callings to which he turns his hand. 
He is rather proven to be versatile by the 
number of which he makes a success. Hon. 
John W. Rinear, of Liberty Center, Wells 
county, Indiana, the subject of this brief 
sketch, has undertaken many vocations, — 
which in itself does not prove him to be ver- 
satile. He has undertaken nothing in which 
he has not been eminently successful, — that 
does. He has been a woodman, a farmer, 
a soldier, a dealer in real estate, a merchant, 
a member of the legislature and various 
other minor vocations, in all of which he 
acquitted himself not only with credit, but 
with marked honor. 

John W. Rinear is a native of Ohio. He 



was born near Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, 
March 4, 1842, the son of Charles and Jane 
S. Rinear. The father was a native of New 
Jersey, born July 7, 18 16; the mother a na- 
tive of New York, born May 16, 1820. The 
parents of Charles were John and Rebecca 
(Gaskill) Rinear, both natives of New Jer- 
sey. Jane S. was the daughter of Silas and 
Esther (Montgomery) Parker, Silas being 
a native of Connecticut, a thoroughbred, 
down-east Yankee, while Esther was a na- 
tive of New York. Charles, the father of 
the subject, grew to manhood in Cuyahoga 
county, Ohio, having accompanied his par- 
ents to that commonwealth when he was 
only five years old. In this locality also the 
parents of Jane S. Parker had settled and 
engaged in farming. There they were mar- 
ried and resided until 1847. when they 
mo\ed to Huntington county, Indiana, and 
seven years later to Liberty township, Wells 
county. That region was at that time dense 
woods, but there they purchased a tract of 
one hundred and twenty acres. Charles 
Rinear was at that time a large, powerful 
man, capable of doing much more work 
than the average man and rarely acknowl- 
edged a feeling of weariness. With little 
means other than their industry, they started 
in a log cabin and fought a winning fight 
against poverty and privation. Both the 
parents are now dead, the father dying De- 
cember 26, 1887, at the age of seventy-one, 
and his faithful wife went to her reward 
April 6, 1894, aged seventy-four. At the 
time of their death they were possessed of 
the title to the land purchased by them 
when they first came to Wells county, be- 
sides much other valuable property. Their 
work was ended when they passed away and 
it was w-ell done. He was a deacon of the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



355 



Baptist church and served in that capacity 
for forty years. In politics he was a stanch 
Republican, but there must have been some- 
thing radically wrong either with his teach- 
ing or the cause he espoused, for all of his 
sons are Democrats. Perhaps it was in the 
atmosphere, as Wells county is a little pe- 
culiar in that particular. Charles and Jane 
S. Rinear were the parents of six children, 
five of whom are yet living. They are as 
follows : John W., the subject of this sketch ; 
Elias M., who most efficiently served Wells 
county as commissioner; Emma S., wife of 
Eli Smith, of Liberty Center; Charles A. 
died at the age of twenty- four years ; George 
F., a resident of Blufifton; Mary J., wife of 
H. J. Johnson, justice of the peace of Lib- 
erty township. Each received a good edu- 
cation and is comfortably settled in life. 

John W. Rinear received his education 
in the common schools of Liberty township, 
which he attended until he was nineteen 
years old. Like many other youths of that 
period, his school days were prematurely 
abbreviated by the operation of the recruiting 
office. September 25, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company A, Forty-seventh Indiana Volun- 
teers. After fourteen months' service he 
was obliged to leave the ranks on account of 
disability by reason of a bullet wound re- 
ceived in the right arm at the mouth of 
White river, Arkansas. Those fourteen 
months, however, were a period of much ac- 
tivity. He was stationed for a time at New 
Madrid, Missouri, and at Riddles Point, 
Missouri. He took part in the siege of Fort 
Pillow and his was the first Federal regi- 
ment in Memphis after the naval battle. It 
was with much regret that he was obliged 
to leave the service at a time when he felt 
most deeply interested in the success of the 



Union cause. He received an honorable dis- 
charge at Memphis, Tennessee. 

After returning from the war he was, 
on April 2, 1863, united in marriage to Miss 
Sarah C. First, a young lady of modesty 
and refinement and of an amiable disposi- 
tion. She was born February 23, 1843, '" 
Liberty township. Wells county, her parents 
being Jacob and Hannah (Stonebrook) 
First, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father 
was born March 5, 181 1. He entered a tract 
of land in Liberty township. Wells county, 
in 1836 and took up his residence thereon in 
1841. He resided upon this land until a few 
years ago, when he began making his home 
with his daughter, Mrs. John W. Rinear, 
wife of the subject of this sketch. He is 
now the only man in Liberty township who 
has retained his ownership of the land he 
originally secured from the government. He 
has at different times held every office in the 
gift of his township, except that of assessor, 
and filled each position creditably and well. 
Now, after a life of unremitting industry, 
in his ninety-second year, he is still hale and 
hearty. Jacob and Hannah First were the 
parents of eight children, viz : Israel, de- 
ceased ; Solomon; Mary J., wife of Peter 
Frantz ; George, deceased : Sarah C. wife 
of the subject; Salinda. wife of R. F. 
Taylor; Thomas and Caroline, who was the 
wife of Theodore Ewart, but has since died. 

For three years after his marriage Mr. 
Rinear rented and lived upon the farm of 
Dr. Melshiemer in Liberty township. In 
the meantime, having saved some money, 
with it he purchased a tract of forty acres 
of land, which now forms a part of Liberty 
Center. The east half of the original plat 
of the town was laid out on this land by 
Mr. Rinear, and when purchased, this land 



356 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



was dense woods. With his own hands the 
new owner erected upon this place a cabin 
eighteen by twenty feet. At this time his 
worldly possessions consisted of a team of 
horses, a cow and a few shoats. For the 
greater part of the purchase price he went in 
debt, but each and every note was paid by, 
or before, the time it became due. With 
his own labor and that of his faithful wife 
they cleared this land and made of it a farm 
and a home. In 1866 Mr. Rinear came into 
possession of his present farm, and on the 
28th day of December, 1866, his home was 
gladdened by the birth of a daughter, Han- 
nah S., who was the first child born in Lib- 
erty Center. She is now the wife of John B. 
Funk, a prosperous druggist and postmaster 
of Liberty Center, w-ho at the expiration 
of his present term will have served the gov- 
ernment in that capacity twelve years. They 
are the parents of three children, viz : John 
A. J., sixteen years old, is in the second 
year of high school and attended the Marion 
Normal School last spring; Sarah A. M., 
thirteen years old, a student of common 
school in the eighth grade; Charles Rinear, 
ten years old, also attending school. 

A purchase of twenty acres of land was 
made by Mr. Rinear in 1874, adjoining his 
place on the north. In 1878 Liberty Cen- 
ter got a railroad, and the same year he laid 
out the east half of Liberty Center. He is 
today the oldest continuous citizen of the 
town. He served as justice of the peace for 
twelve years from 1873 and, during that 
time, did more business than had been done 
in the ofifice by all of his predecessors com- 
bined, including the marriage of one hun- 
dred and four happy couples. In 1877 ^e 
engaged in the mercantile business at Liberty 
Center, w^as appointed postmaster and served 



three years. He continued in the mercan- 
tile business until 1882, meanwhile looking 
after his agricultural interests. He is now 
the owner of three hundred and twenty-five 
acres of land, one mile east of Liberty Cen- 
ter, all in one body, well improved and under 
good cultivaion, as fine a farm as can be 
found in Wells county. Besides he has 
thirty-five acres of his old home place in 
town and resides on lot i of the original 
plat of the town. His home is a most com- 
fortable and commodious one, where he is 
most happy in his domestic relations, and 
where hospitality abounds and love and af- 
fection reigns supreme. 

In 1894, at the session of the Demo- 
cratic joint senatorial convention of Wells 
and Huntington counties, John W. Rinear 
received the nomination and after a spirited 
canvass was elected by a large majority. 
He served on the committees for corpora- 
tions, railroads, public health and natural 
gas in the session of 1895. In 1897 he was 
accorded a place on the committees on 
finance, benevolent institutions, banks, mili- 
tary affairs, county and township business, 
railroads and city of Indianapolis. He was 
appointed by the judge of the circuit court, 
in June, 1899, a member of the county coun- 
cil for district No. 3, and in 1900 he was 
elected councilman at large by a popular ma- 
jority of nearly one thousand one hundred. 
At the election of 1902 he was re-elected by 
a large majority for four years. He has 
served as president of the board ever since it 
was organized, being again elected for the 
ensuing four years. In 1887 he was com- 
missioned by the governor a notary public 
and served in that capacity eight years. In 
every public position he has been called to fill 
he has been faithful and trustworthy. Even 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



357 



his enemies, and there are few without them, 
pohtical or otherwise, have never ventured 
even to insinuate that he has ever in the 
least betrayed any confidence, pubhc or pri- 
vate, that had been reposed in him. At the 
present time Hon. John W'. Rinear is devot- 
ing himself almost exclusively to the man- 
agement of his agricultural interests. On his 
three-hundred-acre farm he raises astonish- 
ingly large crops of grain and the farm is 
well stocked with Poland China hogs, a 
general class of cattle and all necessary 
horses. He raises, buys, fattens and puts 
on the market each year quite an amount of 
stock and the returns from his agricultural 
operations have been gratifyingly profitable. 
He and his wife are members of the Baptist 
church, contributing liberally to its support 
and that of every worthy object. He is a 
member of Lew Daily Post No. 33, G. A. 
R., at Bluffton and Lodge No. 747, I. O. 
O. F., at Liberty Center, of which he is a 
charter member. That he is a good, even 
a model, citizen, at home and abroad, is best 
attested by the esteem in which he is held 
wherever he is known. Such a hold as he 
has upon the affections of the people of his 
own and adjoining counties can never be se- 
cured but bv the most worthv. 



G. W. G. DULLER. 



George W". G. Miller was born June 18, 
1857, in Chester township. Wells county, 
Indiana. He is a son of Henry G. Miller, 
a native of Germany, and Franciena (Mor- 
ris) Miller, a native of the state of Pennsyl- 
vania. Henry came to America when a boy, 
running away to evade serving in the stand- 



ing army of his native country, which is, 
by law, required of every citizen in Ger- 
many. After his arrival in this country, 
he located in Muncie, Indiana, where he re- 
mained for two years, working in a dis- 
tillery. He then went to Montpelier, Indi- 
ana, where he went to work in a flouring- 
mill, and was there for about four years, 
then came to Wells county, and built another 
mill and commenced grinding wheat. He 
continued in this business a few years, when 
he bought the farm where George W. G. 
Miller now lives. Removing to this farm he 
remained there until his death, his wife, 
Francenia, also dying on this farm. Henry 
G. was the father of ten children, six of 
whom are yet living: Nancy J. was the wife 
of John Jellison and is now deceased ; Sarah 
M. was the wife of William Walker, and is 
also deceased; Hannah E., deceased, was the 
wife of P. C. Shadle; Amanda M., the wife 
of William Miller; Mary Ann, the wife of 
Jesse Miller; Jonathan married first a Miss 
Julian and, second, a Miss Strupe; Char- 
lotta married Eli Carney : Ellen, the wife of 
Levi ]\Iarkey, deceased; George W. G., 
who now lives on the home place, and Rosa 
F., wife of John Bennett. 

George was a pupil at district school No. 
3, in Chester township. Wells county, until 
he was about nineteen years old, after which 
he remained at home with his father until 
he was of age. Soon after this he was mar- 
ried and built his first house within forty 
feet of his birth place on the old homestead. 
He still lives on a part of the old place, fifty 
acres of which he owns. On January 6, 
1878, he was married to Florence Raymond, 
a daughter of Henry and Candis (Rogers) 
Raymond, both of whom are deceased. 
George W. and wife are the parents of five 



358 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



children: Henry G., born October 30, 1879, 
married Ida Pearson; Andrew M., born 
March 13, 1882, at home with his parents; 
Newton B., born March 17, 1885; Lucretia 
B., born October 6, 1889; and Merla R., 
born March 13, 1892. 

Mr. Miller is a general farmer, devoting 
himself to the cultivation of his farm and 
raising of stock. He and his family are con- 
nected with the Christian church, of which 
he has served as deacon for the past five 
years. In politics he has always been a Re- 
publican, until within the last two years, 
since which time he has advocated the Pro- 
hibition cause. G. W. Miller belongs to the 
younger class of that large army of bright, 
energetic and go-ahead sons of the soil, 
whose influence will so largely predominate 
in the future advancement and material pros- 
perity of the country. He is the son of a 
sire who, in his young manhood, felt im- 
pelled, by a spirit of independence, to flee 
from the tyranny imposed by the military 
proclivities of his native land to the free- 
dom of action vouchsafed under the waving 
folds of Old Glory. Animated by the same 
spirit of independence and love of freedom 
which caused the father to seek a home and 
larger liberty in the new world for himself 
and descendants, the son will, in the active 
performance of all the duties imposed upon 
a good citizen and neighbor, demonstrate his 
appreciation of the aspirations of his pa- 
ternal ancestor. He is in the prime of life, 
and with the ambition to better his environ- 
ments in life, which is the birthright of every 
American citizen, supplemented by the love 
of family and the high esteem and respect 
in which he is held in the community, will 
inspire him to many years of future useful- 
ness in life. Mr. and Mrs. IMiller are godly 



people and it has been their aim to rear their 
children in the nurture and the admiration 
of the Lord. Their three sons are earnest 
devotees of the religion of the lowly Nazar- 
ine. 



JOHN G. DETTINGER. 

Alany a man is unfortunate in having 
become skilled in a calling for which he 
never afterwards had any use. Years of 
time and unlimited patience have been ex- 
pended to acquire a thorough knowledge of 
business, only to find, when it has been se- 
cured, that a machine has been invented 
which does the work better and many times 
faster than it can be done by hand. In such 
an emergency all that is left to the unlucky 
artisan is to turn his talent to something 
else in the hope of not being forestalled in 
that also. It often happens that what the 
poor victim of fate looked upon as real mis- 
fortune later proved to be only a blessing in 
disguise. It proved so with John G. 
Dettinger, the subject of this sketch. In 
early life he learned the business of a nailer, 
or manufacturer of nails (by hand). At 
the time it was a most flourishing and re- 
munerative calling, ^\'ithin a few years 
after he became thoroughly skilled in the 
business, machinery so completely super- 
seded hand work and nails became so in- 
ordinately cheap that no one but a crank or 
imbecile would think of having nails made b}^ 
hand. The result was that John G. 
Dettinger, skilled nailer, found himself out 
of a job. He came to America, turned 
farmer in the woods of Ohio and Indiana 
and now in his declining years finds himself 
one hundred fold better off than he would 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



359 



have been if the business of making nails 
by hand had not completely collapsed. 

John G. Dettinger was born in Wurtem- 
berg, Germany, July 4, 1830. His parents 
were Samuel and Rosa (Frank) Dettinger, 
natives of that country. Samuel Dettinger 
was well educated and a skilled mechanic, 
the manufacturer of nails by hand. It was 
good business, in which there was at that 
time unlimited employment. The family 
was not rich, but in very comfortable cir- 
cumstances. They were members of the 
German Lutheran church and were the par- 
ents of eight children, four of whom are liv- 
ing, three in the fatherland and one, John 
G., here. Both parents are dead, their en- 
tire life having been passed in their native 
land. 

The benefit of a fair, common school edu- 
cation was accorded to John G. Dettinger. 
He attended school until he was fourteen 
years of age, and then went into the shop 
and worked with his father until he had 
learned the trade. At twenty-one he was 
forced into the military service of the coun- 
try and required to serve for a period of six 
years. On being discharged he hastened 
across the waters to America, landing in 
New York July i, 1857. Ten days after he 
landed he went over into the state of New 
Jersey and was united in marriage to Miss 
Alary Kile — rather a brief courtship, it 
might be thought, but not nearly so brief as 
on its face it seems. Miss Kile was a pass- 
enger on the same ship coming across the 
Atlantic and, as the voyage in those days 
was of many weeks' duration, there was 
ample time 'for getting acquainted and com- 
ing to an understanding. When the first 
flood of connubial happiness had subsided, 
the first thought of the young people was to 



seek remunerative employment. ]\Iaking 
nails by hand had then ceased to be a calling 
in New York and vicinity, so Mr. Dettinger 
turned his attention to something else. He 
had some money and so wisely determined to 
go west. They located in Ohio, where they 
remained until 1886, when they moved to 
French township, Adams county, Indiana. 
He invested in a farm of fifty acres which 
he cultivated for some time, when he added, 
by purchase, forty acres more, which gave 
him a very desirable farm of ninety acres. 
Through his experience in Ohio and In- 
diana, Mr. Dettinger became a very expert 
farmer. He was always favored by good 
crops, because he always saw that plowing, 
planting and cultivating was well done. No 
year was permitted to elapse without lay- 
ing aside a little from the receipts of the 
farm. These sums, as soon as they had as- 
sumed sufficient proportions, were always 
judiciously invested, generally in property 
that afforded an income, investments which 
have all turned out well. In 1897 he sold 
his farm at a very gratifying figure and 
moved his family to Vera Cruz, being now 
retired from active labor. He has real es- 
tate and other property from which he de- 
rives a comfortable income, enough to sup- 
ply his own wants and those dependent upon 
him. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dettinger fourteen 
children have been born, of whom twelve are 
living, viz : Maggie, Eliza, Christina, John, 
Jacob, Charles, Caroline, Samuel, Mary, 
Rosa, Wilson and Emma. Maggie is the 
wife of W. D. Markley and Eliza is the 
wife of John Lobsiger. The family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
regular attendants upon its services and con- 
tribute liberally to the support oi religion 



360 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and charity. In politics Mr. Dettinger is a 
Democrat, but has the wisdom to know that 
most of the time spent in poHtics is time 
wasted. He is a man of very wide acquaint- 
ance, genial, liberal and companionable. 
Among people of his own nationality es- 
pecially he wields a wide influence and al- 
ways for good. Any way that his life may 
be looked upon, financially, socially or do- 
mestically, it must be pronounced a success. 
He has reared a large family of bright, in- 
telligent, moral sons and daughters who are 
a credit to their parentage and to the com- 
munity in which they live. Had the busi- 
ness of making nails by hand continued to 
flourish, it is quite likely that Mr. Dettinger 
would have stayed at his forge and anvil and 
never have accomplished the tenth part of 
what he has. The total collapse of that busi- 
ness proved in the end indeed a blessing in 
disguise. 



WILLIAM McDowell. 

•Among what may be termed the early 
settlers of Wells county, Indiana, are the 
McDowell family, who came from Mercer 
county, Ohio, about 1837 and settled on 
the banks of the Wabash river two miles 
from Bluffton, where the father had al- 
ready purchased and partially cleared a 
tract of land, on which he passed the re- 
mainder of his life, owning at the time of 
his death four hundred and twenty acres. 
Abraham McDowell, the pioneer alluded 
to above and the father of William, whose 
name opens the biographical notice, mar- 
ried Mary Higgins, who bore him eight 
children, of whom William of this sketch 
is the only survivor. One son, John, mar- 



ried Catherine Blue, a sister of Hon. M. 
C. Blue, and went to live in Missouri, 
where he passed the remainder of his days. 
John, David and James, three of the eight 
children alluded to above, served in the 
Civil war and proved themselves worthy 
of the family name and the glorious cause 
in which they served. 

William McDowell was reared upon 
the home farm and thoroughly learned his 
calling or vocation, through the instruc- 
tion of his father, whom he faithfully as- 
sisted until his majority had been attained. 
His educaton was but limited, yet suf- 
ficient for all the purposes of a rural life 
and a successful career as a farmer. In 
due course of time Mr. McDowell suc- 
ceeded by inheritance to eighty acres of 
the home farm, to which, through his in- 
dustry, he has since added forty acres, and 
thus is the owner of a compact farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres. 

Air. McDowell was united in marriage 
October 11, 1866, in Wells county, with 
:\Iiss Margaret Miller, daughter of Field- 
ing Miller, a native of Perry county, Ohio. 
This union has been crowned by the birth 
of one daughter, Alice, who is now the 
wife of H. E. Shoemaker, of Bluffton. 

Religiously Mr. McDowell is not a 
member of any particular denomination, 
but is a liberal contributor to the mainten- 
ance of all the churches of his neighbor- 
hood. Politically, he is one of the stanch- 
est Democrats in Wells county and an ar- 
dent worker for the advancement of his 
party's interests at the polls as well as the 
promulgation of its principles throughout 
the state, county and township. As a farm- 
er he is one of the most skillful and suc- 
cessful in Harrison township, and as a 




WILLIAM Mcdowell and family. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



361 



citizen he is substantial, reliable and use- 
ful, is widely known as an honorable man 
and one ready at all times to contribute of 
his means to the promotion of all projects 
designed for the advancement of the wel- 
fare of his fellow citizens. His farm is one 
of the best kept and neatest in Harrison 
township, being well drained and cultivat- 
ed and improved with every modern con- 
venience. His dwelling is an ornament to 
the neighborhood, and his farm buildings 
are equally creditable. Mr. McDowell 
conducts general farming and raises all 
the cereals usual to the section of the coun- 
try in which he lives, besides large quan- 
tities of hay, which he feeds in a great 
measure to his live stock, which he raises 
in large numbers. Some of his animals are 
of choice grades, which he fattens and 
ships to the various markets, excepting, 
of course, those requisite for home use. 
Although his chief object in carrying on 
farming is for profit, yet he takes great 
pride in the vocation and loves it for its 
own sake, feeling it to be the most honor- 
able and independent of all industries, as 
well as the fundamental calling of man, 
and it is a matter of gratifying commenda- 
tion that he may be classed as among 
those who stand at its head. 



ADAM ARNOLD. 



There were very few white people in 
Wells county previous to 1830. Then they 
slowly drifted in from the settlements in 
Ohio and other parts of the country where 
government land could no longer be found 
to settle upon. By 1845 much of the land 



was taken, but the country was still wild 
and little improved. In 1844 the progenitor 
of the Arnold family came and made settle- 
ment upon a quarter section in Harrison 
township. 

Adam Arnold, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Harrison township, Wells 
county, April i. 1852. His father was 
Moses Arnold, who in the early 'forties lo- 
cated upon one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in the woods of Wells county. He 
came from Miami /-ounty, Ohio, where he 
was born, his parents being Jacob and Clo- 
tilda Arnold. When he first located in Wells 
county Moses Arnold was a young man of 
twenty-four years, married only a short 
time, and had come out into the wilderness 
to establish a home and make his fortune. 
Eagerly he set about the undertaking, work- 
ing early and late in clearing and improv- 
ing his land. The hardships of pioneer life, 
however, were not easily endured and his 
young wife sickened and died, leaving four 
little children to his care. To remain long 
a widower under those circumstances would 
have been cruel to his helpless offspring, so, 
after waiting a suitable period of time, he 
chose a wife from the daughters of his 
neighbors and was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary N. Bartelmy, daughter of John 
Bartelmy, a native of Pennsylvania who had 
located in Wells county early in its settle- 
ment. To Moses and Clotilda Arnold 
twelve children were born, of whom Adam, 
the subject of this sketch, is the oldest. They 
are Adam, of whom more will be said here- 
after; Ellen, deceased; Sarah, deceased; 
Elijah and Eli, twins, of whom the latter is 
dead; the former married Clara Shock and 
they reside in Michigan; Henry married 
Carrie Sweney; Edward, deceased; Clotilda, 



362 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



deceased ; George married Ida Souch : Jen- 
nie is the wife of Albert Lenning; Ida is 
the wife of Charles Ealey ; Allen married 
Sarah Beeler. 

The original quarter section of land lo- 
cated upon by Moses Arnold was cleared 
and improved by him and his children and 
was held and resided upon by him until his 
death, which occurred February 8, 1897. He 
was a man of much firmness and determina- 
tion, yet neither aggressive nor unkindly in 
disposition. He loved his family and re- 
spected his neighbors and acquaintances. 
Few men have passed away in his section 
of the country esteemed more highly or 
who were more deeply mourned. In politics 
he was a Democrat and although not a bitter 
partisan, never neglected an opportunity to 
vote his sentiments. He died as he had 
lived, at peace with all the world and per- 
fectly resigned to abide by the will of the 
Superior Power. 

Adam Arnold, the subject of this sketch, 
was reared upon the farm and learned early 
the details of the work to be done. When 
little more than a child he swung an ax 
with the energy of a man. He chopped 
down trees, trimmed them, measured and 
sawed the logs, dug roots, burned brush, and 
split rails under his father's direction with 
far more assiduity than many hired hands. 
In the winter he attended the district school 
and was as faithful in his studies as in the 
clearing of the field. The result was that 
before he had attained his majority he had 
acquired a fair knowledge of the common 
school branches. When twenty-one years of 
age he began working in the timber for 
wages and followed that calling during the 
winter months for a number of years, the 
other months of the year being employed as 



a farm hand. His first agricultural labors 
on his own account was on his father's 
farm, which he rented. In his customary 
careful, methodical manner, he plowed and 
planted and reaped. With such success was 
his efiforts attended that within a short time 
he determined to establish a home of his 
own. On December 24, 1876, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Julia Lanning, 
who was a native of Harrison township, 
born March 2, 1853. Her parents were 
Johiel and Susan Lanning, both old resi- 
dents of Wells county. She was a young 
lady of good education, fair attainments and 
amiable disposition. He continued to rent 
the old home place after marriage and pros- 
pered. At his father's death and when the 
estate was divided, he added to his share by 
purchase until he now owns si.xty and three- 
quarter acres of the original farm. To 
Adam and Julia Arnold eight children have 
been born, viz : Theodore, born September 
3, 1877, married Zetta M. Masterson; Des- 
sie Belle, born in 1879, deceased ; Lulu May, 
born December 9, 1880; Samuel E., born 
November i, 1882; Margaret E., born July 
14, 1884; Myrtle, born February 16, 1888; 
Zina M.. born May 7, 1889: Millie M., born 
June 12, 1891 ; Luster H., born January i, 
1895. ^I^'S- Arnold and members of the 
family belong to the Six Mile Christian 
church and are liberal supporters of that re- 
ligious denomination. 

In politics Mr. Arnold is a Democrat, 
but never has felt that he is either cut out 
or constructed on the lines of a politician. 
He has, therefore, neither aspired to nor 
held office, nor does he care to seek place 
at the hands of any party. He has no quar- 
rel with people who have taste or inclination 
in that direction, but political pie is neither 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



363 



palatable nor nutritious to him. In their 
section of the country Mr. and Airs. Arnold 
and their children are well known and highly 
esteemed. Mr. Arnold has in his possession 
an old parchment deed dated November 2, 
1837, and signed by President Martin Van 
Buren. 



DANIEL SILLS. 



Daniel Sills was born on the farm where 
he now lives, April 20. 1843. He is a 
son of Daniel Sills, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born November 12, 1804, who died 
September 4, 1873. and the latter was a 
son of Joseph Sills, a native of Germany. 
The mother of Daniel Sills, Jr., was Mary 
(Blackford) Sills, born November 9, 1806, 
a daughter of John Blackford. Blackford 
county, Indiana, received its name from its 
original settlers, the ancestors of Mary 
(Blackford) Sills. Daniel, Sr., was mar- 
ried to Mary Blackford June 22, 1826, and 
settled in Ohio, later coming to Indiana, 
and on March i, 1842, moved onto the farm 
now occupied by Daniel Sills, Jr. The sen- 
ior Sills devoted the greater portion of his 
life to farming and hunting, he and his 
sons clearing the farm where the subject 
resides. Daniel, Sr., was the father of ten 
children, five of whom are living : Elizabeth, 
born May i, 1827; Katherine, born No- 
vember 9, 1828, deceased ; Sarah, born April 
18, 183 1 ; Margaret, born November 21, 
1827, deceased; Joseph, born February 24, 
1833, deceased; Michael, born July 15, 
1838; Daniel, born April 20, 1843; James, 
born February 20, 1845 ; John, born June 5, 
1847, deceased, and an infant, deceased. 

Daniel, Jr., attended school at the Helm 



Corner school house in Chester township 
until he attained the age of twenty years. 
The longest term of school in those times 
was three months, and he did not get to go 
more than half of that time at any one term. 
He remained with his father, who claimed 
his wages until he was twenty-one years of 
age. In 1865 he went to Iowa and remained 
there that year. Excepting this one year 
spent in the west, he remained working in 
the home neighborhood, making his home 
with his parents until he was about twenty- 
five years old. He was married February 
13, 1868, to Mary C. Dick, who was born 
September 8, 1845, and died September 13, 
1898. She was the daughter of Uriah Dick, 
a resident of Blackford county, Indiana, 
and a native of Virginia. After his mar- 
riage, Daniel Sills and wife settled two and 
one-half miles south of Montpelier, Indiana, 
where they lived for a period of eighteen 
months, then moving onto the farm where 
he is now living. He has remained on this 
farm continually since that time, it having 
virtuall}^ been his home ever since he was 
born, excepting the first eighteen months of 
his married life. He has been all his life 
\\hat may be termed a general stock farmer. 
He has also owned and run a threshing ma- 
chine in season for thirty-five years and has 
done some saw-milling. He is the owner of 
three hundred and fifty acres of land, eighty- 
eight of which are in the home place and 
the remainder in Blackford county, Indi- 
ana. He received six hundred dollars from 
his father as a start in life. He is the 
father of fourteen children, all of whom are 
living, as follows: Alvina, born January 
29, 1869; Letta F., March 7, 1870; Rosa L. 
B., December 29, 1871 : Uriah D., January 
27, 1873; Jennie M., April 2y, 1874; Wes- 



364 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ley H., November 16, 1875 ; Addie D,, Sep- 
tember 6, 1878; Cbarles C, Marcb 18, 1880; 
Elijah B., November 15, 1881 ; Bertha M., 
June 30, 1883 ; Sue O., June 26, 1885 ; Eva 
A., August 13, 1887; Mary C. March 18, 
1890, and Daniel N., March 18, 1893. 

In his political views the subject has al- 
ways subscribed to the doctrines of the 
Democratic party; he believes, however, in 
a man voting his sentiments regardless of 
party dictation. Mary C. (Dick) Sills, his 
wife, after having been a true and faithful 
helpmate to her husband for thirty-one 
years, passed to her reward September 13, 
1898, mourned by her husband and chil- 
dren. Daniel Sills is one in whom the love 
ot family, friends and country is largely de- 
veloped. He has never had a desire to roam 
the wide world o'er, but has found content- 
ment in the bosom of his family and his 
friends in the locality of his nativity. He 
is an industrious and exemplary citizen, who 
has found his highest happiness in the per- 
formance of his civic duties to the com- 
munity in which he has lived, in providing 
for his family and securing a competency to 
meet the contingencies of the inevitable 
"rainv dav." 



JOSEPH STAHL. 



A native of Bluffton, Wells county, In- 
diana, Joseph Stahl was born September 4, 
1856, and is a son of Jacob and Mary J. 
(Grove) Stahl. of whom further mention 
will at once be made, both being now de- 
ceased. Jacob Stahl, Sr.. a native of Bedford, 
Pennsylvania, was a son of Abram and Re- 
becca Stahl, who were also born in the Kev- 



stone state. Jacob was but twelve years 
of age when brought to Wells county, In- 
diana, by his parents, who settled on a farm 
in Nottingham township, and on that farm 
Jacob grew to manhood. He there mar- 
ried Miss Grove, who was born in Fairfield 
county, Ohio, and with her parents, Joseph 
and Elizabeth Grove, came to Wells county, 
Indiana, when she was but six years of age, 
about 1839, the family settling in Harrison 
township. At his marriage Jacob Stahl lo- 
cated in Bluffton, where he followed his 
trade as a carpenter for eight years, and 
then came to Liberty township and settled 
on the farm which his son, Joseph, now 
owns and occupies, and where he erected one 
of the first frame houses in the township. 
This farm had been entered from the gov- 
ernment by Abram Stahl, his father, and 
when Jacob, Sr., settled on it it was one 
stretch of timber land, but Jacob succeeded 
in clearing it up and in converting it into one 
of the pleasantest homesteads in the town- 
ship at that early da)'. Here he and wife 
passed the remainder of life, Jacob, who was 
born Mar-ch 20, 1825, dying May 20, 1893, 
and Mary J., who was born May 12, 1835, 
dying April 9, 1898. They were the parents 
of two children, Charles and Joseph. 

The younger of these two, Joseph Stahl, 
is the gentleman whose name opens this 
biography. He was educated preliminarily 
in the public school of Liberty township, 
\v'hich he attended until he was eighteen 
years of age, and then passed one term in 
the Blufifton high school. At the age of 
nineteen years, Joseph received a portion 
of his one-third interest in the estate, and 
at once invested it in a forty-acre tract of 
land, but continued to make his home with 
his father, receiving one-third of the prod- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



36; 



ucts of the farm f(.)r his services until his 
marriage, when about twenty-two years 
old, and of which event farther mention will 
be made. He then erected a dwelling on his 
own land, but continued to work for his 
father until the latter's death; from first to 
last he worked on the one-third principle for 
about twenty years. Since the mother's 
death the property has been equally divided 
between Joseph and his brother Charles, 
putting the latter in possession of one hun- 
dred and fifty acres, one hundred and twenty 
of the old home place and thirty-eight acres 
in Chester township. Mr. Stahl is a general 
farmer and a breeder of live stock, and one 
of the most successful agriculturists of his 
age in the township. 

November 28, 1878, Joseph Stahl mar- 
ried Miss Mary Snovi% who was born Janu- 
ary 24, i860, and is a daughter of Henry 
and Elizabeth (Booth) Snow. To this bliss- 
ful union have been born two children, 
namely: Edith, married to Herbert Smith 
and now living on Joseph Stahl's farm, as- 
sisting in its cultivation during the sum- 
mer seasons and teaching school during the 
winters; Homer Augustus, the younger of 
the two, is also a teacher and has his resi- 
dence on the home place. Further informa- 
tion in relation to the Snow family may be 
gleaned from the biographical record of 
George Snow on another page of this vol- 
ume. 

Joseph Stahl, since he has been entitled 
to the exercise of his franchise, has voted 
with the Democratic party, and his first of- 
ficial position under the auspices of that or- 
ganization was as superintendent of gravel 
roads for two years, having charge of 
seventy-three linear miles. In 1900 he was 
elected to the commissionership of the sec- 



ond district of his county. He has never 
been without ample means, having always 
been wise enough to add to his possession 
through his industry and careful manage- 
ment and is today recognized as one of the 
most substantial and useful citizens of Lib- 
erty township. He is always ready to aid 
financially in promoting such improvements 
as may be of permanent benefit to his fel- 
low citizens, and there is certainly not a 
more respected family in Liberty township 
than that of Joseph Stahl. 



JOHN LOBSIGER. 



The steady, plodding, persistent boy is 
the one who almost invariably makes the 
best success in life. The eager, dashing, 
brilliant lad may accomplish much by a 
single bold stroke, but there is too much of 
chance in such ventures. It is the youth who 
makes each period of time speak for itself 
and all of them to speak well in his behalf, 
who always has most to show- for the days, 
weeks and months that have elapsed. John 
Lobsiger. of Harrison township, Wells 
county, the subject of this sketch, is steady, 
plodding and persistent. He has been 
twenty-nine years in America and has some- 
thing of value to show for each year. 

July 30, 1 86 1, John Lobsiger was born 
in Switzerland, the son of John and Eliza- 
beth (Waible) Lobsiger. They and their 
anqestors, for many generations, were na- 
tives of that oldest republic on earth. In 
his native land, John, the father of the sub- 
ject, was a laborer, who by hard work es- 
tablished himself in comfortable circum- 
stances and, as is generally the case, just 



366 



WELLS COUNTY, rNDIANA. 



about the time he began to be prepared to en- 
joy life, died. His widow mourned her loss 
for a suitable period and cared for her little 
son, John, the subject, then consoled herself 
by accepting a second husband. In 1873 she 
came to America, bringing with her her little 
son, and settled near V'^ra Cruz. Wells 
county. Here the lad, although but twelve 
years old, began working by the month as 
a farm hand. In 1878 he entered the em- 
ployment of John L. Steiner and after work- 
ing for him by the month for a year, al- 
though then but eighteen years of age, he 
rented the farm, and did so well with it 
that it was leased to him year after year for 
eighteen years. In 1885 he was united in 
m.arriage to Miss Eliza Dettinger. a young- 
lady of Van Wert county, Ohio, who was 
born July 4. 1861. but had moved with 
her parents to Wells county in 1873, where 
she resided up to the time of her marriage. 
In his wedded state, as during single bless- 
edness. John continued frugal and provi- 
dent, gradually increasing his yearly income 
and year by year adding to his material 
possessions. He and his wife are the par- 
ents of four children, viz : Rosa, born April 
10. 1887; Harry, born April 30, 1889: Rob- 
ert L., born October 6. 1890; Martin, born 
April 4. 1892. The children are all intel- 
ligent, apt in their studies at school, and 
give promise of being useful, worthy citi- 
zens. 

In politics Mr. Lobsiger is a Democrat. 
a firm believer in the tenets of that political 
creed and during each and every campaign 
exerts himself for the advancement of the 
cause. He has never sought office for him- 
self and desires no official position at the 
hands of his party, but generally there is 
some man upon his party ticket to whom his 



special zeal is accorded and even if there 
should not be, he is none the less interested 
in the result. He has been a resident of 
Vera Cruz since 1896, is a member of the 
lodge of Knights of Fidelity and is generally 
regarded as a worthy and estimable citizen. 
He is a man of kind disposition and gener- 
ous impulses, a faithful husband, kind 
father, a true and sincere friend. He is still, 
comparatively speaking, a young man. and 
those who know him best predict for him 
a most brilliant future. Mild mannered, 
calm and dispassionate, no judge ever set 
upon the bench who considers every ques- 
tion which arises with more cool delibera- 
tion than he does. Every feature of a propo- 
sition is looked at before he decides and 
when he does decide he is always true to his 
convictions. It is through the injection of 
such blood that the American is beginning to 
dominate the earth. 



JOHN B. FUNK. 



This popular young druggist at Liberty 
Center, Wells county, Indiana, is a native 
of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born 
June II, 1862, a son of Absalom and Anna 
(Bower) Funk, the former of whom was a 
native of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and a sdu of Benjamin Funk, and the 
latter, also a native of the Keystone state, a 
daughter of Jacob Bower. From Pennsyl- 
vania Absalom Funk was taken to Ohio, 
where he grew to manhood and married 
Miss Bower. He there followed farming 
and milling until November, 1866, when he 
came to Liberty township, Wells county, 
Indiana, and purchased three hundred and 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



367 



twenty acres of woodland, on which, in 
1867, he erected a saw-mill, which, in 1868. 
was destroyed by fire. Within two years, 
however, Mr. Funk had another mill run- 
ning, and continued to operate it until 1874, 
when he removed to Lancaster township, 
Wells county, and engaged in farming and 
the nursery business. His death, which oc- 
curred July 9, 1875, was caused by exposure 
while at work in his nursery, the shock of 
the fatality being a severe one to his family 
and numerous friends. The children born to 
Absalom and Anna Funk were eight in num- 
ber, and in order of birth were named as fol- 
lows : Mary, who died in infancy, in Ohio ; 
W. H., now in Bluffton, Wells county; Mar- 
tin, a miller in Liberty Center; Benjamin F., 
a farmer in Wayne county, Ohio; Jacob A., 
a resident of Rock Creek township. Wells 
county, Indiana; Susan M., wife of Dr. Gar- 
rett, of Liberty Center; John B.. whose 
name opens this biographical sketch, and 
Rachel M., wife of William Bowman. 
AlDsalom Funk was a Republican in politics 
and while living in Ohio served as a justice 
of the peace under the auspices of his party ; 
his widow is now seventy-seven years old 
and is still quite active. 

John B. Funk attended the public 
schools of Liberty township until twelve 
years of age and then entered the Blufifton 
city schools, in which his education was com- 
pleted in its literary elements, and he next 
attended the normal school one term, to be 
the better prepared for the profession of 
teaching. The winter following his gradu- 
ation from this institution Mr. Funk taught 
school, and the following July (1883) he 
was engaged by Dr. F. W. Garrett and Dr. 
Morrison as a clerk in their drug store. 
Within a short time thereafter Mr. Funk 



purchased Dr. Morrison's interest in the 
stock, later bought one-half of the building, 
and finally, in 1888, purchased Dr. Garrett's 
interest and for a short time conducted the 
business alone. Mr. Funk's next partner in 
business was J. W. Rinear, father-in-law of 
Mr. Funk, who bought a one-half interest. 
This partnership was maintained for two 
years, when Mr. Rinear sold out to Dr. Ed- 
win Rinear in 1892, but a year later Mr. 
Funk bought out the Doctor and has since 
had sole control of the business, of which 
he has made a thorough success. In 1895 
Mr. Funk purchased a forty-acre tract of 
land in section 16, Liberty township. Wells 
county, to which, in 1901, he added thirty- 
two acres adjoining, and also purchased a 
one-and-three-quarter-acre lot, on which 
stood a barn. He rents out this land, but 
reserves the right of raising some stock for 
his own use. 

John B. Funk's marriage was solemnized 
April 2, 1885, with Miss Hannah S. Rinear, 
who was born December 28, 1866, and is a 
daughter of Senator J. W. and Sarah 
Rinear, Mrs. Funk being the first white 
child born in Liberty Center. At their mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Funk went to house- 
keeping in their present handsome dwelling 
in Liberty Center and here they have been 
blessed with three children, namely : John A. 
J., born May 22, 1886, now in his second 
year in the high school, having attended one 
term at the Marion Normal School : Mabel, 
liorn December 13, 1888, and now in her 
eighth year at school; and Charles Rinear. 
born February 2, 1892. in the fifth grade 
at school. 

Mrs. Funk is an active worker in the 
Baptist church and Mr. Funk is a member 
of Liberty Center Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. 



368 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



F. ; he is also a member of the Bluffton En- 
campment No. 141. He has passed the 
chairs in the camp, to attend which cere- 
mony he was compelled to travel eight miles. 
It may also be added that Mr. and Mrs. 
Funk are members of Rebekah Lodge No. 
83 of Bluffton. in which lodge Mrs. Funk is 
particularly active. 

In politics Mr. Funk is a warm Republi- 
can, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster 
of Liberty Center, a position he held for four 
years and two months to the entire satisfac- 
tion of the people and the postoffice depart- 
ment, the result being that he was retained 
by his successor, H. J. Johnson, as deputy, 
for another term of four years ; he was then 
again commissioned postm.aster of Liberty 
Center and still holds that responsible office, 
a continuous term of fourteen years in 
all, as either principal or deputy. It was 
through his strenuous efforts that the office 
at Liberty Center has been made a money 
order office. Mr. Funk has also been suc- 
cessful in his efforts to establish the rural 
postal route connected with Liberty Center. 
He has held a notary public's commission 
for four years, and in serving the interests 
of his party has been a delegate to numer- 
ous county and congressional conventions, 
in which his voice was always heard in the 
best interests of his party. 



WILLIAM LIPKEY. 

Prominent among the leading citizens 
of Union township. Wells county, Indi- 
ana, stands William Lipkey, who was born 
in Brooke county, Virginia (now West 
Virginia), May 26, 1822, a son of Charles 



and Margaret (Crow) Lipkey, of remote 
German descent and of ante-Revolution- 
ary citizenship. Charles Lipkey, father of 
William and a soldier of the war of 1812, 
was the only son in a family of six children 
born to Henry and Mary A. Lipkey, the 
former of whom was the first of the fam- 
ily to come from Germany to America. 
Henry Lipkey was but sixteen years old 
when he arrived in the colonies, but at 
once espoused the cause of freedom and 
served as a private soldier in the army of 
the patriots until the glorious end had 
been achieved. To Charles and Margaret 
(Crow) Lipkey were born three sons and 
three daughters, viz: Philip and Charles, 
deceased; Margaret, now deceased, was 
the wife of Edward Meacham, and left two 
sons; Elizabeth was the wife of George 
Clemmens ; Rachel died unmarried ; Wil- 
liam is the subject proper of this sketch. 
In September, 1822, Charles Lipkey 
moved from Brooke county, Virginia, to 
Trumbull county, Ohio, where young Wil- 
liam was reared on his father's farm, and 
where he acquired as fair an education as 
that early day afforded. At the proper 
age he went out to work by the month and 
found employment at various occupations 
until he had amassed a small sum of cash, 
and then started out on foot for the West. 
When he reached Wells county, Indiana, 
he entered the land on a part of which he 
still resides. He continued to add to his 
original tract until he became the owner 
of one hundred and eighty acres of well- 
improved property in Union township, 
and has here made his home continuously 
since 1856. He is today one of the most 
honored of the township's citizens, having 
devoted his best energies to the development 




WILLIAM LIPKEY. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



369 



of the resources of the country and the pros- 
perity of the community in which he has 
hved for more than half a century. 

Mr. Lipkey has ever been among the 
foremost in advocating public improve- 
ments and was one of the first to agitate 
the project and petition for the building 
of the road that runs east and west 
through the center of Union township, 
from the Indianapolis pike to the George 
Glass farm, which petition was granted in 
March, 1849, the line being surveyed by 
the then county surveyor, George Mann. 
Mr. Lipkey has always interested himself 
in these affairs and his judgment is implic- 
itly relied upon by his fellow citizens who 
time and again have selected him as admin- 
istrator of very important estates. 

February i, 1854, William Lipkey was 
joined in marriage with Miss Belinda Lew- 
is, daughter of Wheeler and Abiah Lewis, 
of Connecticut. Although no offspring 
has blessed this union, Mr. and Mrs. Lip- 
key's hearts warm toward the orphan and 
they have reared, or partly reared, six 
children, born to others, viz : Margaret 
Lipkey. who at the age of two years, was 
taken to their home, but who, at the age 
of fourteen was most untimely called 
away ; Jennie Dick, at the age of fourteen, 
won the affection of Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey, 
and by them was reared until her marriage 
to Thomas Lepper ; she died at twenty-nine 
years of age; James Lipkey was but ten 
years old when in the fall of 1865 he found a 
place in the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey ; 
he is still an inmate of the old homestead, 
operating the farm, and is married to 
Martha J. Longshore ; they have two chil- 
dren, Jesse W. and Hattie A., and lost one, 
William H., in infancy; Frances McDer- 



mott was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey 
in the fall of 1866, when she was about 
four years old, and is now the wife of Ira 
Longshore ; Annie Fry was next adopted, 
at fourteen, but she, too, passed away 
aged twenty-one, and Frank McMullen 
lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey six years, 
from the age of ten. To each of these 
children who were married Mr. Lipkey do- 
nated sufficient means for a start in hfe, 
and there probably exists nowhere in the 
township or county a similar instance of 
munificence. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lipkey united with the 
Methodist Episcopal church in Decem- 
ber, 1856, and have ever been earnest and 
active in their work for this denomination. 
They are liberal contributors financially 
toward its maintenance and rejoice in its 
prosperity and the spread of its teachings. 
Mr. Lipkey has been officially connected 
with the church as trustee since 1861 and 
class leader for forty-two years thus show- 
ing the sincerity of his faith and the kind- 
ness of his heart in acts innumerable. He 
has been a member of the quarterly con- 
ference since 1856, and for several years 
has served as Sunday school superintend- 
ent. Fraternally he is a member of Os- 
sian Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M., and po- 
litically he is one of the leading and most 
substantial Republicans of Union town- 
ship and Wells county. Mrs. Lipkey, it is 
sad to add, was for many years an invalid, 
and Mr. Lipkey, with his usual patience 
and charity of disposition, cared for her 
until she passed into the silent land, No- 
vember 7, 1886. 

Mr. Lipkey in his youth did not have 
the opportunity of obtaining a very com- 
plete education, the ordinary grade of 



370 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



arithmetic being the highest study in the 
school curriculum in his day and neighbor- 
hood. The school house was of the com- 
mon type of the period, with slab benches, 
greased-paper windows and other rude ac- 
commodations. During his long life Mr. 
Lipkey has contributed toward the erec- 
tion of eight church buildings, seven in 
Wells county and one in Allen county, and 
has in many other ways exhibited a lively 
interest in the welfare of those about him. 



PROF. ARTHUR R. HUYETTE. 

A gentleman of ripe scholarship and 
marked executive ability, whose life is 
being consecrated to the cause of humanity, 
in one of the most exacting of professions, 
it is eminently proper in this connection to 
revert briefly to the life career of Prof. A. 
R. Huyette, the efficient and popular prin- 
".ipal of the Keystone high school. Prof. 
Huyette has become one of the leading edu- 
cators in the county of Wells and in addition 
to his work here his labors have won him 
wide publicity in other parts of the state 
where his talents as a teacher have been 
exercised. As the name indicates, the 
Huyette family is of Erench origin, the sub- 
ject on the maternal side inheriting the blood 
of a long line of Irish ancestry also. 
Joseph R. Huyette. the Professor's father, 
was born in Pennsylvania July 24, 1838, 
and when a young man was married, in that 
state, to Miss Louisa Gray, whose birth oc- 
curred on the 1 8th day of January, 1841. 
Mr. and Mrs. Huyette remained in their na- 
tive commonwealth until the fall of 1861, 
when they disposed of their interests there 



and moved to Huntington county, Indiana, 
settling in the township of Huntington 
where they lived the ensuing two years. 
x\t the expiration of that time they changed 
their abode to Clear Creek township, in the 
same county, and still live there, Mr. Huy- 
ette following the pursuit of agriculture as 
a vocation. Joseph R. and Louisa Huyette 
are the parents of six children, whose names 
are as follows : Anna, wiie of James B. De 
Armitt, e.x-superintendent of the Hunting- 
ton county schools; Juniata, the wife of E. 
E. Dinius, a farmer of Huntington county, 
is a graduate of the State Normal School at 
Terre Haute and for a number of years 
prior to her marriage was considered one 
of the successful teachers of the Hunting- 
ton city schools; Fanny, the third of the 
family, married William F. Rice and still 
resides in the county of Huntington, her 
husband being a prosperous farmer of Union 
township; Arthur R., of this review, is the 
fourth in order of succession, and after him 
comes Jessie A., who achieved considerable 
distinction as a teacher, having taught for 
some years in the district schools and now 
holds an important position in the city 
schools of Huntington; she was graduated 
from the Huntington high school and pre- 
pared herself for her chosen calling in the 
State Normal School at Terre Haute ; Wal- 
ter G., the youngest of the children, lives 
at home and assists his father in cultivating 
the farm. 

Prof. Arthur R. Huyette is a native of 
Huntington county, Indiana, and dates his 
birth from the 3rd day of November, 1871. 
When old enough he became a pupil of the 
district school not- far from his home and 
after completing the prescribed course, en- 
tered the Clear Creek township high school. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



2,7^ 



His was essentially a studious nature and he 
early decided that there was open before him 
a field of great usefulness in the teacher's 
profession. Accordingly he began prepar- 
ing himself for his chosen work by a thor- 
ough course of intellectual and professional 
training. Leaving the township high school, 
he attended the spring term of the State 
Normal and the following winter (1890-91) 
taught successfully in his own native county. 
He divided his time between teaching of 
winter seasons and attending the spring 
terms of the State Normal until 1893, when 
he entered that institution with the object 
in view of continuing his studies, uninter- 
rupted, until completing the full course. He 
was graduated two years later with an hon- 
orable record and in the fall and winter of 
1895-6 taught a term in Huntington city 
schools, being elected the following year 
principal of the graded schools of Bristol, 
Indiana. After filling that position two 
years Professor Huyette had charge of liter- 
ature and mathematics in the Huntington 
Business and Normal University, but in a 
short time resigned the place to accept the 
principalship of the Keystone high school, 
entering upon his duties in the latter ca- 
pacity in the fall of 1898. He has held his 
present position for five years, during which 
time the school under his charge has made 
rapid advancement, ranking with the most 
efficient high schools of northern Indiana in 
its course of study and thoroughness of in- 
struction. As a teacher Prof. Huyette has 
few equals in the county of Wells and his 
name is widely and favorably known in edu- 
cational circles throughout the northern part 
of the state. He is a fine scholar, a polished 
gentleman and possesses the necessary traits 
of character to insure success in the noble 



calling to which he proposes to consecrate 
his life and energies. A close and critical 
student, he keeps close touch with the trend 
of modern educational thought and his laud- 
able ambition has ever been to make him- 
self an efficient teacher and stand in the front 
rank of his profession. To this end he main- 
tains a lively interest in his studies, which 
he prosecutes in addition to his regular du- 
ties in the school room, being at this time 
a senior in the work of the Indiana Uni- 
versity, from which institution his degree 
will soon be forthcoming. 

Prof. Huyette was married on the 9th 
of August, 1900, to Miss Anna S., daugh- 
ter of Hiram and Rebecca (Briner) France, 
of Huntington. Mrs. Huyette is one of the 
three children born to these parents, she 
and her sister Emma being twins. They 
were both graduated at the same time from 
the Huntington high school, after which 
they engaged in teaching first in the country 
and later in the city of Huntington. Sub- 
sequently Emma became the wife of Charles 
Raymond, of Huntington county; Anna 
continued educational work until her mar- 
riage at the date referred to above, spending 
the last five years while thus engaged in the 
schools of East Chicago; meantime she had 
graduated from the Indiana State Normal 
at Terre Haute and achieved distinction as 
a scholar as well as a large measure of suc- 
cess as a teacher. Nettie, the third sister, 
also a well educated lady, is now the wife of 
Sherman Fetters, a railroad man living in 
Andrews, Indiana. The mother of Mrs. 
Huyette died when her eldest daughters 
were about nine years of age. The father 
lives at Huntington. Prof, and Mrs. Hu}'- 
ette's marriage has been blessed with one 
child, a son bv the name of Kenneth H., 



i7'- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



whose birth occurred on the 25th of No- 
vember, 1901. The subject and wife are 
active members of the United Brethren 
church and sociahy they move in the best 
society circles of the community where they 
hve. 

PoHticahy Prof. Huyette is a zealous 
supporter of the Democratic party and 
speaks with no uncertain meaning when 
maintaining the soundness of his principles. 
He cast his first presidential ballot when 
Grover Cleveland was elected for the second 
time, and from that time to the present has 
taken a prominent part in local and general 
politics in the different places of his resi- 
dence. He holds fraternal relations with 
Bristol Lodge No. 369, Knights of Pythias, 
and it has been his aim to make his life cor- 
respond to the beautiful and sublime prin- 
ciples which this excellent order inculcates. 
Prof. Huyette is regarded as one of the lead- 
ing men of Keystone and his career profes- 
sionally and as a citizen has gained him the 
confidence and high esteem of the public. 
He has hosts of warm personal friends and 
is making more every year by the urbanity 
of his kindly nature, while his advancement 
in his profession has won for him an hon- 
orable name among the leading educators 
in this section of the state. 



GOTTLIEB ROLLI. 



This well-known horseman of Harrison 
township, Wells county, Indiana, is a na- 
tive of the impregnable and gallant little re- 
public of Switzerland and was born July 10, 
1859. His parents, John and Christina 
Rolli, were also born and were married in 



that republic, where the father still lives and 
is engaged in the noble vocation of agri- 
culture. To the union of John and Chris- 
tina Rolli were born seven children, namely : 
John, still in Switzerland; Frederick, also 
residing in that republic ; Gottlieb, whose 
name opens this biographical sketch and 
whose residence is in Vera Cruz, Harrison 
township, Wells county, Indiana; Eliza- 
beth, deceased ; Jacob, also in Vera Cruz, In- 
diana; Samuel is in Switzerland, and 
Onabarbra, deceased. 

Gottlieb Rolli lived in his native land 
until 1882, when he decided to try his for- 
tune in the grander trans-Atlantic republic, 
came to x\merica and settled in Vera Cruz, 
Indiana. Here he engaged in his present 
business of breeding, for which he has a pe- 
culiar ability, being an expert. Among 
other valuable animals he is part owner of 
Cremeo, that has scored 2 140 in a trial heat 
and is the sire of Gold Bug, who has made 
a record of 2:19; he also owns two high 
bred fillies and two draft stallions in part- 
nership. Mr. Rolli is also a famous dog 
fancier, and owns one of the best English 
pointer dogs in Wells county. 

Fraternally l\Ir. Rolli is a member of 
Lodge No. 30, Knights of Fidelity, Bluff- 
ton, and politically is a Democrat. He is 
one of the most active members of his party 
in Wells county and a leader in its councils 
and has served as a member of the town 
council of Vera Cruz for several years, being 
still an active member of that honorable 
body. 

Gottlieb Rolli was united in matrimony 
in 1888 with Miss Maggie Munger, who was 
born in Switzerland, but when only two 
years of age was brought to America b)^ her 
parents. This union has been blessed with 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Z72> 



six children, named as follows : ^laurice, 
Frances, Ruth, Blanche, Harold and Harry. 
Mr. Rolli is favorably known through- 
out the township of Harrison. He is rec- 
ognized as a man of the strictest integrity, 
was never known to take an undue advan- 
tage of another or to make a misrepresenta- 
tion in a trade of any kind, something which 
cannot always be said of men in his line of 
business. It is true that he is shrewd and 
knows full well what he is about, but he 
never oversteps the rigid rules of honesty. 
He and his amiable helpmate are rearing 
their children to lives of usefulness and to 
be ornaments to the community in which 
they have their being, and to society at large. 
Mr. Rolli may be termed a self-made man 
in the business sense of the phrase, and 
counts his friends by the hundred in Wells 
county and the surrounding counties as well 
as in more distant parts of the state. 



NATHAN ROBERTS. 

Kentucky, which in its early history 
was known as "The Dark and Bloody 
Ground," furnished Indiana wnth some of 
its pioneer settlers in the early days, but 
very few of them found their way as far 
north as Wells county. A few families, 
however, have been traced to that locality, 
among them the Roberts family, to which 
Nathan Roberts, the subject of this sketch, 
belongs. He was born in Rock Creek town- 
ship. Wells county. October 17, 1851, but 
his father was a Kentuckian, having been 
born in that commonwealth February 23, 
181 1. Robert and Abigail (Redding) Rob- 
erts were the parents of the subject hereof. 



In his native state of Kentucky Robert Rob- 
erts grew to manhood and on January 28, 
1836, he married Miss Mary Brown. Two 
children were born to this union, but both 
are now dead. In 1837 he mo\-ed to Wells 
county, Indiana, where he entered one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of government land, 
in section 32, Rock Creek township, and 
upon this he built a home, cleared and im- 
proved the land and later added eighty acres, 
making him the owner of two hundred acres. 
August 10, 1840, he met his first great be- 
reavement in the death of his faithful wife. 
He was again united in marriage, his sec- 
ond wife being a widow, ^Irs. Abigail 
Sparks, whose maiden name was Redding, 
the date of her birth being December 12, 
1815. To this union five children were born, 
three of whom are still living, viz : John, a 
resident of Rock Creek township; Nathan, 
of this sketch, and R. D., of Rock Creek 
township. Again the death angel visited the 
Roberts home and on April 8, 1862, Mrs. 
Abigail Roberts departed this life. Her loss 
was deeply felt and widely mourned. She 
was a kind, generous woman, of most ami- 
able disposition, wdiose sole object in life was 
to do good. For a third time Robert Rob- 
erts entered the bonds of matrimony, his 
third wife being Mahala Redding, who is 
still living on the old homestead. Her for- 
mer husband died February 5, 1880. He 
was a man who took an active part in all 
of the affairs of life, in politics was a Demo- 
crat and served a number of terms as town- 
ship trustee, besides occupying other local 
offices. He was a member of the New 
Light church. 

Up to the time he was twenty years old 
Nathan Roberts attended the public schools 
of Rock Creek township, when they were in 



374 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



session, generally about three months in the 
year. In this way he secured a good com- 
mon school education, to which he has added 
much since by extensive reading. Until he 
\\ as twenty-one years of age, when not in 
school, he worked for his father on the 
farm. The five years next succeeding his 
majority were employed upon the same 
farm, cultivating it upon the shares, his part 
being one-fourth of all that was raised. On 
March 9, 1876, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Harriet Mossburg, who was born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1853. She was a daughter of 
Henry and Mary (Ware) Mossburg, na- 
tives of Henry county, Indiana, whose an- 
cestors were riatives of Maryland and Vir- 
ginia and members of the Christian church. 
Henry Mossburg, grandfather of Mrs. Rob- 
erts, came to Wells county, Indiana, in 1837, 
was the third settler in Liberty township 
and was the first white man buried in the 
township. He was a soldier of the war of 
18 12 and died November 2, 1838. Henry 
Mossburg, the father of Mrs. Roberts, was 
twice married. First, August 2, 1845, to 
Rebecca Scotten. To this union five chil- 
dren were born, of whom only one child, 
Isaac, is living. His second wife, to whom 
he was married May 8, 1852,- was Mrs. 
Mary E. (Nau) Wiley. Ten children were 
born to this union, viz: Harriett A., La- 
Fayette, Ella May, William, Jane, Ara- 
mantha, Eddie, Lizzie, Walter and Milton, 
the latter dying when only four years old. 

When Nathan Roberts was twenty-three 
years of age his father gave him fort}' acres 
of land in Rock Creek township. This he 
held for about two years when he sold it. 
The proceeds he used as a part payment on 
one hundred and sixty acres in Liberty 
township which he purchased, going in debt 



for the balance, one thousand six hundred 
dollars. This land is located in section 3, 
was a wild and trackless forest at that time, 
but is now the well improved, productive 
farm upon which the Roberts family re- 
sides. Immediately after this marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Roberts took up their residence 
on this place and it has been their home ever 
since. Their first home was a little frame 
house built of green cottonwood lumber, 
whose tendency to warp was so marked as 
to remind one of the "crooked house" of 
Mother Goose fame. In 1886 he built a 
barn thirty-six by sixty feet, that is one of 
the most commodious and substantial struc- 
tures of the kind in the township. In 1890 
he erected a handsome ten-room house, 
which is beautifully finished and has since 
been elegantly furnished, making a most 
enviable home. When he paid ofif the origi- 
nal indebtedness, he purchased another tract 
of forty acres adjoining his place on the east. 
This gives him two hundred acres, in one 
body, all choice farming land, well drained 
and under cultivation. By hard work, 
economy and thrift, Nathan Roberts and his 
faithful wife have accomplished this, be- 
sides putting together personal property of 
a value not less than two thousand dollars. 
The farm is well stocked with horses, cattle 
and hogs. From a very small and insignifi- 
cant beginning they have evolved all this 
and have done it within a period of twenty- 
five years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts two children 
have been born, viz : Rosa M. is the wife 
of William Johnson and they have one child, 
Harold N. X.; they reside on the Roberts 
farm; Nettie B. is well educated and ac- 
complished in music, residing with her par- 
ents. Mrs. Roberts is a Quaker, her church 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



375 



being in Liberty Center, but both her daugh- 
ters are members of the Baptist church. Mr. 
Roberts is a member of Lodge No. 747, 
I. O. O. F., of Liberty Center, and of Atoka 
Tribe No. 226, I. O. R. M., at Rockford, 
Indiana. Whatever zeal he may lack in re- 
ligion, he makes up in activity in lodge 
work. In politics he is a Democrat, but 
never held or desired to hold office, though 
a number of times he has represented his 
township in various conventions. Most 
flattering success has never banished the na- 
tive modesty of Mr. Roberts. He is ever 
the same kind, genial and sympathetic man, 
one who loves his friends and treats his 
enemies with contempt. Mr. Roberts 
possesses an old parchment deed, signed by 
President ^Martin Van Buren. 



PETER MEYER. 



As far back as 1835 the Aleyer family 
came from Switzerland to America. Peter 
Meyer was a native of the unconquerable 
little republic, having had his nativity May 
22, 1 83 1. He has since had his home in the 
grander republic of America, now being a 
resident of this country about sixty-seven 
years, or more than an ordinar}- life time. 
On coming to this country, Peter and Mar- 
garet Meyer, the parents of Peter, who is 
made the especial subject of this biographi- 
cal notice, first located in Starke county, 
Ohio, where they lived about one year, and 
whence Peter, the father, in company with 
John Buler, came on foot to Wells county, 
Indiana, in 1836. From here he went to 
Adams county with an ox-team and located 
in French township and lived on a farm in 



the midst of a forest for several years, sold 
the farm and came back to Wells county, 
where he died in the 'seventies, at the home 
of his son Abe. 

Peter Meyer, of this sketch, until twenty- 
one years old worked on his father's 
farm, and then began learning the carpen- 
ter's trade. Having finished learning his 
trade, he came to Vera Cruz and here mar- 
ried a Miss Mary Sauers, of Newville, but 
a native of Switzerland, who bore him one 
child; the child and the mother were both 
called away sometime late in the 'fifties. In 
i860 Mr. Meyer chose for a second wife 
Miss Elizabeth Mosure, who was likewise 
a native of Switzerland, and to this happy 
union have been born eight children, name- 
ly : Albert; Jonas; Sarah, wife of William 
Frauhiger; Betta, married to Philip Frau- 
higer ; David, a business man in Bluffton, 
and of whom more may be learned by a 
perusal of his life sketch on another page of 
this volume; Jacob, married, Elizabeth and 
Ida, still single. 

Although Peter Meyer was a poor man 
even until his having attained his majority 
and up to the time of his first marriage, 
he was always industrious and economical 
and a good manager of his earnings as they 
came to him. He used these earnings ju- 
diciously, and with unusual foresight in- 
vested them in such a manner that they 
were sure to bring him a satisfactory re- 
turn. He was filled with energy and cour- 
age, and in i860 made his first venture in 
real estate, buying eighty acres in an almost 
impenetrable forest in Wells county, but 
which he succeeded in developing into one 
of the best farms in Harrison township, 
taking into consideration its dimensions. 
But his industry and enterprise have not 



376 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



been confined to this tract only, as he has 
owned as many as four hundred acres, which 
he has divided among his children as they 
grew to maturity and chose life partners for 
themselves. The fact stands forth as an 
evidence of his perseverance and he deserves 
the most commendable credit for the suc- 
cessful manner in which he has developed 
his own homestead. 

The Meyer family belong to the German 
Reformed church, and in politics Mr. Meyer 
has always been a Democrat. As a farmer, 
he stands today among the foremost of Har- 
rison township, and his strict integrity in 
all his dealings has made him one of the 
most honored men of his community as well 
as one of the most influential. 



J. W. GOODYEAR. 

The office of biography is not to give 
voice to a man's modest estimate of him- 
self and his accomplishments, but rather 
to leave upon the record the verdict estab- 
lishing his character by the consensus of 
opinion on the part of his neighbors and 
fellow citizens. In touching upon the life 
history of the subject of this sketch the 
writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium 
and extravagant praise; yet he desires to 
hold up for consideration those facts which 
have shown the distinction of a true, use- 
ful and honorable life — a life character- 
ized by perseverance, energy, broad char- 
ity and well defined purpose. To do this 
will be but to reiterate the dictum pro- 
nounced upon the man by the people who 
have known him long and well. 

The Goodvear familv is an old one and 



is traced back through several centuries to 
its original location in Cumberland, Eng- 
land, where, close to the borders of Scot- 
land, the family flourished from the tenth 
to the thirteenth centuries. Eventually 
the members of the family became scatter- 
ed, the name being found in many parts of 
England and, according to old records 
still extant, a number went to London. At 
least three liranches of the family have mi- 
grated to America at diiiferent times, it 
1)eing a matter of record that there arrived 
in America in 1637 Stephen Goodyear, 
who afterward became governor of New 
Ha\en colony. Another branch of the 
family went from England to Holland and 
Germany, their emigration being coinci- 
dent with that of the Puritans. This Ger- 
man branch of the family later came to 
America and from it is descended the fam- 
ily to which belongs the subject of this 
sketch. The first emigrant ancestors set- 
tled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in 
that state, on the 4th of April, 1789, was 
born Samuel Goodyear, who lived a long 
and useful life, dying at the advanced age 
of ninety years. His son, William James 
Goodyear, was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, January 13, 1822, and ac- 
companied his parents upon their removal 
to Ohio in 1832. Ten years later, 1842, he 
came alone to Indiana, locating in Blufif- 
ton. Wells county, a section of country 
which did not at that time give much 
promise of the marked prosperity which 
has since characterized both city and 
county. He worked at the carpenter's 
and cooper's trades several years. He was 
here united in marriage, on the I7tli of 
February, 1850, with Miss Diana J. Sutton, 
a granddaughter of the Rev. Elijah Sut- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



m 



ton, one of the well known early pioneers 
of Wells county. This worthy couple lived 
to celebrate the golden anniversary of the 
ceremony which united them, the event 
being the occasion of a large gathering of 
their relatives and friends who joined in 
their efforts to make memorable the day. 
Mr. Goodyear died July lo, 1901, on the 
old homestead near Murray where he had 
made his home for half a century. To 
William and Diana Goodyear were born 
two children, Rhoda Fidelia, born Novem- 
ber 16, 1 85 1, and Jacob Webster, the 
subject. 

Jacob W. Goodyear was born July 13, 
1862, was reared upon the old home farm 
near Murray and was early given the ad- 
vantage of attendance at the common schools, 
after which, during the years 1877-9, ^^ at- 
tended the normal school at Bluffton. In 1880 
Mr. Goodyear entered Fort Wayne College, 
graduating in the commercial and business 
department the following year, and also 
graduating in the classical department in the 
same institution in 1883. In addition to 
pursuing his regular studies, he was en- 
gaged for two years in teaching bookkeep- 
ing and mathematics. After leaving 
school he w-as for a year occupied in can- 
vassing for the sale of books and then 
passed four years upon the farm. In 1888, 
upon the organization of the Wells County 
Bank, Mr. Goodyear was elected to the po- 
sition of cashier, in which capacity he has 
since served continuously. In 1903 he 
was elected to the position of vice-presi- 
dent of the institution and also made a 
member of the board of directors. He was 
still retained in the position of cashier and 
in these joint positions he has since had 
the active management of the bank's af- 



fairs. The bank, though but fifteen years 
old, has had a most creditable history and 
from a small institution has developed in- 
to one of the largest and most influential 
state banks in Indiana. It has a capital of 
one hundred thousand dollars, a surplus 
of ten thousand dollars and assets amount- 
ing to over seven hundred thousand dol- 
lars. There are seventy-five stockhold- 
ers, whose interests are looked after by 
nine directors. Mr. Goodyear has not 
confined his sole attention to his banking 
interests, as is shown by the fact that he 
is an of-ficer in and a director of four other 
institutions that have for their object the 
welfare and improvement of the city and 
county. For a number of years he has 
been a director, and in Januarj-, 1903, was 
elected the president, of the Commercial 
Club, an organization that has accomplish- 
ed much in building up the commercial 
interests of Blufi^ton, and he is also presi- 
dent of the library board, in the latter ca- 
pacity being in hearty accord with the 
proposition to erect a new library in this 
city in the near future, one that will be in 
thorough harmony with the other recent 
improvements in the city. Mr. Goodyear 
helped to organize and for the long period 
of tw^elve years has been treasurer of the 
People's Mutual Loan and Savings As- 
sociation and is also an incorporator and 
secretary of the new Elm Grove Cemetery 
Association, which has been started on 
most modern cemetery plans. In many 
ways not here mentioned Mr. Goodyear 
has exerted a silent, but none the less 
potent, influence upon the city's growth 
and development and among those best 
acquainted with the full scope of his ef- 
forts and accomplishments he occupies a 



378 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



high position in their confidence and es- 
teem. Much of the present prosperity of 
this section of the country is directly trace- 
able to the impulse of the influence and ef- 
forts exerted by the subject. Mr. Good- 
year is free in his expression of gratitude 
to his parents and his sister for their un- 
selfish devotion to him, that he might ob- 
tain a good education and have a start in 
life. Through them the foundations were 
laid thoroughly and deeply and upon them 
he has builded wisely and well, so that to- 
day he occupies a position not only credit- 
able to himself, but reflecting honor to 
those who so carefully looked after him in 
the primal days of his life career. 

On the 26th of November, 1891, Mr. 
Goodyear was united in the holy bonds 
of matrimony with Miss Harriet Bennett, 
daughter of Robert C. and Harriet (Deam) 
Bennett. This union has been a most hap- 
py and congenial one and has been blessed 
by the birth of one child, Edith May, born 
]\Iay 2T), 1896. Thus briefly have been set 
forth the salient facts in the life career of 
one of Wells county's intelligent men of 
affairs. His career and position illustrate 
most happily the fact that, if a young man 
possesses the proper attributes of mind 
and heart, he can attain to a position of 
unmistakable precedence and gain for 
himself an honored position among the 
men who are the foremost factors in shap- 
ing the destiny of cities, communities and 
states. His life proves that the only true 
success in this world depends upon per- 
sonal efifort and consecutive industry. It 
also demonstrates that the road to posi- 
tion is open to all who possess the courage 
to tread its pathway and serves as an in- 
spiration to the young of the present and 



future generations, teaching by incontro- 
\'ertil;)le facts that true success is ambition's 
legitimate answer. 



HENRY CLAY McCULLICK. 

One of the original pioneers to whom the 
present generation is indebted for the com- 
forts and blessings which attend the deni- 
zens of a well improved and highly cultivat- 
ed commonwealth is Henry C. McCullick, 
a son of Henry ]\IcCulIick, a native of 
Maryland, but of Scotch parentage. The 
father of the subject married for his first 
wife Martha Twible, a native of Maryland 
whose parents, John and Elizabeth Twible, 
were natives of Scotland, John, the father, 
having come to America with the British 
army. His inherent love of freedom, how- 
ever, later led him to desert the British and 
attach himself to the American cause and 
thereafter he fought in many battles for in- 
dependence, passing through many narrow 
escapes, having at different times had five 
bullet holes shot through his clothing and 
one through his hat. After his marriage the 
elder McCullick settled in Tyler county, Vir- 
ginia, where he remained until 1832 when 
he removed to Henry county, Ohio, remain- 
ing there until the fall of 1834, at which 
time he again removed to Wells county, In- 
diana. 

February 11, 1835, when the subject was 
seven years of age, Henry, Sr., became one of 
the first settlers of Chester township, Wells 
county, a typical pioneer belonging to that 
class to whom too much honor can not be 
accorded by succeeding generations. Upon 
his arrival in the new country Henrv, Sr., 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



379 



settled upon land which is still in the fam- 
ily, being the farm now occupied l^y Isaac 
McCullick. 

At the first election held in Chester and 
Jackson townships there were but seven 
votes cast. Henry, Sr., was chosen for office 
and his oldest son was also elected to fill the 
ofifice of justice of the peace. The oldest 
brother of the subject of this sketch was the 
first man who took out a marriage license 
in the new county of Wells. When the sub- 
ject with his father's family came to Wells 
county, they moved into an Indian settle- 
ment of three hundred souls, with whom he 
run, played and slept and declares that they 
are the best class of citizens the United 
States ever had if they had only been let 
alone. Henry, Sr., was a soldier of the war 
of 1812, and died in 1863 at about the age 
of seventy-five years. His wife, Martha, 
died in 1847. The subject was three times 
married. To his first union nine children 
were born. John, deceased ; Rachel, deceased ; 
Josiah, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; 
Lindy, deceased: Henry, the subject of this 
sketch; Mary J., the wife of St. Claire 
Raush, who is deceased; Penelope, the wife 
of Silas Jones ; William, who is a resident of 
Michigan and married to Margaret Good- 
frey. Henry, Sr., married the second time, 
and this wife dying, he chose for- his third 
wife Susie Hunt, the widow of Harvey 
Hunt. To this third union was born one 
child, Ellen, who married Edward Terhune. 

Henry Clay McCullick went to school 
but thirteen days, there being but few school 
facilities until after he had attained his ma- 
jority. His parents being uneducated, he, 
by his own efforts, learned to read, write and 
cipher. The first lesson he learned to read 
as a whole was the third chapter of INIatthew, 



after which he soon learned to read well, 
an accomplishment which he cultivated 
through life. He remained with his father 
until he was nearly twenty-five years of age. 
The latter having been confined to the house 
for fourteen years a sufferer from white 
swelling, Henry C. aided by his sister, 
Lindy A., cleared the farm, she working 
with him every day. Just before he was 
twenty-five years of age he put out the first 
crop, of which he received a share." which 
was one-fourth of the product. The next 
year he went to work on his own land, hav- 
ing traded a yoke of oxen, a one-horse 
wagon and a colt for a tract of land in the 
woods. He went to work clearing it up, and 
the first summer had cleared thirteen acres, 
built a house and got himself a wife. He 
moved into the house before it had any win- 
dows. This farm was in section 30, Chester 
township, on which he lived until 1872, 
when he purchased the Hammer farm and 
moved on to that. This farm is now occu- 
pied by Isaac ^McCullick. In the year 1870 
he owned three hundred and fifty-five acres 
of land, which he sold for ten thousand dol- 
lars, but owing to the failure of the parties 
to meet the payment either of interest or 
principal he was compelled to take back the 
land. He moved onto the farm where he 
now lives in 1880. His present home is a 
farm of sixty and three-fourths acres of 
finely improved land. The subject has de- 
voted his time exclusively to farming, oc- 
cassionally shipping stock, etc. 

Mr. McCullick has been twice married. 
His first wife, to whom he was married 
November 23, 1850, was Elizabeth Ander- 
son, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca 
(Cochran) Anderson, natives of Virginia. 
I Elizabeth was bom in Alarch, 1827, and 



38o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



died March 7, 1875. As a result of this mar- 
riage nine children were born : Jasper, de- 
ceased; Nun, a resident of Montpelier, In- 
diana, acquired a high education ; Lot ; 
Wyley, deceased ; Isaac, a farmer in Chester 
township ; William, a resident of Wells 
county: Sarah J., deceased; Lucy, the wife 
of William Alexander, of Fairmount, Indi- 
ana. For his second wife Mr. McCullick 
married Mandania Mclntyre, the widow of 
Thomas Mclntyre and daughter of Robert 
Hathaway, this marriage occurring August 
18, 1876. To this union one child was born, 
Emma, now living at home with her parents. 
Mr. and Mrs. McCullick are both workers 
in the church of Christ. Politically the sub- 
ject is a Prohibitionist, having never voted 
any other ticket save once when he voted for 
the Hon. A. N. Martin for congress. 



RUFUS B. CLARK. 



While in old England they boast of their 
ancestry back for twenty generations or 
more and in New England they lay claim 
to more than half as many, here in the west 
if we can look back upon our family tree a 
hundred years and see nothing to be ashamed 
of, we are liable to strut a little and feel some 
semblance of the aristocratic thrill that is 
supposed to bespeak the blue blood of no- 
bility. There are many in the west possess- 
ed of such a family tree. Some it impells 
to put on airs and af¥ect superiority. Others 
view it in the purely American sense, that 
a man's worth is neither increased or di- 
minished by what those who preceded him 
have or have not been. Of the latter class 
is the Clark family of Wells and Hunting- 



ton counties, one of whom is the subject of 
this sketch, Rufus B. Clark, of Liberty town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana. He has a fam- 
ily of which he might boast, but he is too 
much interested in the affairs of his own life 
to waste time with such foolishness. He 
is a young man, but a very successful one. 
He was born in the township where he now 
resides January 9, 1874, and, though only 
in his twenty-ninth year, is as capable and 
thorough a business man as one can en- 
counter. 

The paternal grandparents of Rufus B. 
Clark were Sargeant and Eunice (Irwin) 
Clark, natives of North Carolina, who came 
in the winter of 1838-9 from their native 
state to Huntington county, Indiana, travel- 
ing the entire distance in a wagon. They 
entered a tract of eighty acres of govern- 
ment land in Salamonie township, and here 
built a home, cleared the land and reared 
their family. They were the parents of 
eight children, viz: Martha J., deceased; 
John I., who was the father of Rufus R., 
the subject: Rachael. wife of John Radcliff, 
of Newark, Ohio; Roscoe L., a resident of 
Huntington county, Indiana, residing on 
part of the old homestead; Landona, wife of 
Amos L. Carl, of Beamer, Indiana; Hannah, 
Lewis and Jasper. Of all the early in- 
habitants of Huntington county, non?! are 
remembered with kindlier feelings than Sar- 
geant and Eunice Clark. They were natur- 
ally unselfish, kind and generous, and to 
those gifts they added a benevolence and 
hospitality that is popularly supposed to be 
peculiarly prevalent in the south. They 
spent nearly as much time caring for neigh- 
bors in need as they did in looking after their 
own afifairs, yet did not slight or neglect the 
latter. Mr. Clark helped to build roads. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



381 



bridges, churches and school houses, never 
exacting renumeration for his services; in- 
deed, he would felt offended if asked what 
his charge was. His good wife was con- 
stantly, in her motherly way, on some errand 
of mercy or charity. 

The maternal grandparents of Rufus B. 
Clark were George and Nancy (Hampton) 
Helm. They were natives of Tennessee, 
but came from that state, by wagon, in 1838, 
to Huntington county, Indiana, and settled 
on the bank of the Salamonie river about two 
miles below Warren. The most numerous 
inhabitants of the county at that time were 
Indians. There, in the depths of the wilder- 
ness, June 6, 1846. Nancy Helm, the mother 
of Rufus B. Clark, was born. Her birth 
place is now in the township of Jefferson. 
In the early days of the settlement the peo- 
ple were obliged to go to Preble county, 
Ohio, for supplies. It was a long, tedious 
journey, through the trackless woods. The 
round trip frequently required weeks in ac- 
complishment, especially during inclement 
weather or when the streams were swollen. 
On one such trip the husband and father, 
George Helm, was away six weeks and his 
intrepid little wife with her three small chil- 
dren remained alone in the cabin, during the 
day in the mortal dread of the red savages 
with whom the woods were peopled, and at 
night almost equally in fear of the wild 
beasts of the forest. Mr. Helm cleared and 
improved this land and made it his home up 
ti) the time of his death. George and Nancy 
Helm were the parents of eight children, 
viz : Lorinda, widow of James Gill ; John 
A. died on the old home place; William 
is a 'resident of Huntington, Indiana; 
Nancy, wife of John I. Clark; Sarah was 
the wife of Jacob Irwin, but is now de- 



ceased : Jane died at the age of sixteen 
years ; David at the age of seventeen and 
James died when he was but two years old. 
The parents were among the most enterpris- 
ing, public spirited and prosperous of the 
early settlers. Nancy Helm died at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. John I. Clark, 
in the fall of 1874. 

John I. Clark, father of the subject, 
grew to manhood on his father's farm in 
Salamonie township, attended the public 
schools and received a fair common school 
education. He worked by the day, week or 
job until he was twenty-three years of age, 
when he rented the farm of George Helm, 
making his home in the Helm family. For 
five years he continued on this farm, and 
was united in marriage to Miss Nancy 
Helm, a daughter of the family in which he 
had been boarding. He then purchased 
eighty acres of land in Liberty township. 
Wells county, Indiana, which was then 
unimproved, but now forms part of the farm 
owned by him and on which he still re- 
sides. The size of this farm has been con- 
stantly increased by purchase until it now 
comprises three hundred and twenty acres. 
It is well fenced, ditched and otherwise im- 
proved. In 1882 Mr. Clark built a barn, 
forty by eighty feet, which was added to in 
1896 and it is now one hundred and five feet 
in length. In 1886 he erected a model home, 
large, commodious, well finished and hand- 
somely furnished, among the best in the en- 
tire county, while the other buildings on the 
farm correspond well with those mentioned. 
John I. and Nancy Clark are the parents of 
four children, viz : Viola P., wife of Albert 
Minniear, a resident of Liberty township; 
Rufus B. is the subject; Garnet E., wife of 
John C. Smith, a resident of Huntington; 



382 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Lester E., the youngest of the family, is still 
unmarried and resides with his parents. In 
September, 1901, John I. Clark, the father 
of this family, was stricken with paralysis 
and has been helpless ever since. His good 
wife and youngest son, Lester, accord him 
every care and make him as comfortable and 
cheerful as possible in his affliction. Though 
still only a youth, Lester is much interested 
in the work of the farm and in the breeding 
and feeding of blooded stock. He is at- 
tending the graded school at Liberty Center 
and will finish the course this year. Both 
parents have been members of the Methodist 
Protestant church a number of years, at 
Beamer. During his entire career John I. 
Clark has been strictly a temperance man and 
was e\er ready to advance the work of 
churches and schools in the interest of mor- 
ality, religion and learning. In politics he 
was always a stanch Democrat, as was his 
father before him. Like the wise and provi- 
dent man that he is, he has made ample 
provision for his children, as after laying 
aside a farm of one hundred and eighty-five 
acres for his faithful wife, each of their 
children will be presented with a tract of 
forty acres. 

Rufus B. Clark attended the public 
schools of his native township until he was 
twenty years of age. He then, in connec- 
tion with Albert Minniear, his brother-in- 
law, began the cultivation of his father's 
farm, receiving for their services a share 
of the crop and for four years they contin- 
ued thus, steadily prospering. On the 4th 
day of December, 1898, Rufus B. Clark was 
united in marriage to Miss Zora A. Burman, 
a lady of intelligence and refinement, born 
in Franklin county, Ohio, October 4, 1874. 
She is a daughter of George W. and Lydia 



(Trimmer) Burman, natives of Ohio. The 
parents of George were Daniel and Harriett 
Burman. George was twice married, his 
first wife being Sallie Hempy, who accom- 
panied him to Indiana when he emigrated 
from Ohio. Two children were born to 
them, both of whom are now dead, as also is 
the mother. His second wife was Lydia A. 
Trimmer, a native of Ohio, where they were 
married and where they resided a number 
of years, when he returned with his wife to 
Huntington county, locating near Pleasant 
Plain. Both are still living, residents of 
Warren county, Indiana. Her parents were 
John and Sarah (Stumbaugh) Trimmer, 
natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Fair- 
field county, Ohio, in the early 'forties. 
There they resided until the death of Mrs. 
Trimmer, when her husband came to Hunt- 
ington county, Indiana, and made his home 
with his daughter, Mrs. Lydia A. Burman 
until his death, which occurred January i. 
1892. To this marriage two children were 
born, viz : Etta, wife of Elsie Thompson, 
of Liberty township, and Zora A., wife of 
Rufus B. Clark. 

The place owned by Rufus B. Clark is 
known as the Hickory Grove Stock Farm. 
About the time of his marriage he erected a 
fine residence upon the place and in 1899 
built a barn thirty-six by fifty-six feet, in 
1892, increasing its size to fifty- four by 
fifty-six feet. He has cleared, fenced, 
ditched and otherwise improved the land un- 
til it is today one of the best kept farms 
in the county. The finest well in that lo- 
cality is on the premises, always supplied 
with abundance of pure healthful water for 
man or beast. He has also a large orchard 
of fine, thrifty young trees of all kinds. He 
breeds the Ohio Improved Chester hogs. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL-\NA. 



383 



Hereford cattle and a general class of sheep, 
most of the cattle being thoroughbreds. He 
carries on general farming and always aims 
to feed more grain than he raises on the 
premises, not that he wants to raise less 
grain, but that he aims to feed more stock. 
He is the owner of stock and other personal 
property that will easily reach in value two 
thousand dollars. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Rufus B. Clark two 
children have been born, viz : Hazel F., born 
February 26, 1900, and Howard Russell, 
born August 14, 1902. The parents are 
members of the Methodist Protestant 
church of Beamer. having united with that 
denomination in May, 1902. He is a mem- 
ber of Lodge No. 747, L O. O. F., at Liberty 
Center, and in politics is a Democrat, active 
and zealous in all campaigns. There are 
few men in this country of whom it can 
truthfully be said they never drank intoxi- 
cating liquor, chewed tobacco, smoked, play- 
ed cards or indulged in any species of gamb- 
ling. That statement, however, can truth- 
fully be made regarding the subject of this 
sketch, Rufus B. Clark. He is a moral. 
model, manly man. If men of his kind were 
more numerous this country and this world 
would be greatly improved. 



WILLL^M D. MARKLEY. 

Among the prosperous native-born far- 
mers of Harrison township, Wells county, 
Indiana, William D. Markley stands most 
prominent. He is a son of John and Ma- 
linda (Wilson) Markley, was born April 
25, 1 84 1, and Harrison township has al- 
ways been his place of residence. 



John iMarkley, the father of William 
D., came from Madison county, Ohio, to 
Wells county, Indiana, in 1836, and entered 
one hundred and eighty-five acres of forest 
land in section 18, Harrison township, where 
there had about half a dozen settlers pre- 
ceded him, including Dan and Adam Miller, 
Thomas Van Horn and Higgins Gentry. 
Mr. Markley put up the inevitable log cabin 
for temporary shelter and set resolutely to 
work to clear up a farm, or rather to clear 
off the heavy timber surrounding his cabin. 
He added gradually to his possessions until 
he owned about six hundred acres, but con- 
tinued to make a dwelling of his original 
cabin the remainder of his life. He was a 
very public-spirited gentleman and did all 
his means would allow in assisting finan- 
cially the making of public improvements. 
He was well known throughout the county 
of Wells, although a quiet, unassuming 
man," and was recognized as a useful citizen 
and a good neighbor, being deeply mourned 
at his death, which took place in the faith of 
the Christian church, and his name is still 
kept green in the memory of his surviving 
relatives and friends. In politics he was a 
Republican, but never was officious or inter- 
meddling in forcing his views upon others, 
and as a farmer was one of the most success- 
ful stock raisers in his township. To John 
and Malinda (Wilson) Markley were born 
eleven children, of whom eight grew to ma- 
turity, namely : Rachel, now the wife of 
Stephen Adsit; Rev. J. J., of Lancaster 
township; William D.. with whose name 
this biographical record opens : Ellen, widow 
of Ben Studabaker; Matilda, married to 
Capt. E. Y. Sturgis; Lewis P., of this town- 
ship: Samuel, of Elwood, Indiana; Wilson, 
still in this township. 



384 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



William D. Markley was reared to farm- 
ing on the old homestead, but was given an 
opportunity to attend school three months 
each year until he was eighteen years old. 
He was quite apt at his studies and on re- 
linquishing these engaged in teaching school 
in Wells county until he was twenty-three 
years of age, when, in 1864, he married Miss 
Mary E. Dougherty, a native of Darke 
county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and 
Margaret (Studabaker) Dougherty, as well 
as a sister of the Hon. Hugh Dougherty. 
To the marriage of W. D. and Mary E. 
Markley were born five children, viz : Cora, 
who was a teacher in Wells county for 
several terms and was then married to Jules 
Meredith; Franklin, deceased; Carrie, wife 
of Earnest Morrow ; Anna, married to 
Arthur Markley, and Jane, wife of Gus 
Baker. Mrs. Mary E. (Dougherty) Mark- 
lev was called from earth in 1884, and Mr. 
Markley chose for a second helpmate Mar- 
garet Dellinger, whom he married in No- 
vember, 1891, and this union has been 
brightened by the birth of one child, Marie, 
born June 27, 1895. 

Mr. Markley is a member of the Chris- 
tian church at Six Mile and is also one of the 
trustees. He is very active in his church 
work, contributes liberally toward its sup- 
port and maintenance and lives strictly up to 
its teachings. In politics Mr. Markley is a 
stanch Republican in principle, but seldom 
takes an active part in advancing the inter- 
ests of the party, excepting in the way of 
regularly casting his vote in its favor, as he 
has never felt any desire for holding a pub- 
lic office, although he is very popular in his 
township and he and family are among the 
most prominent and respected residents of 
Wells county and Harrison township. 



J. B. GAVIN. 

The man who makes the greatest success 
in life is not always he who starts with the 
greatest advantages and best opportunities. 
This is well exemplified in the case of J. 
B. Gavin, the subject of this sketch. He 
was born in the county of Galway, Ireland, 
August 10, 1845, but only the first two 
years of his life were spent in his native 
land. In 1848 his parents, with all their 
children, emigrated to Arherica and located 
in Ross county, Ohio. They remained there 
six years, when, in 1854, they moved to 
Harrison township. Wells county, Indiana, 
where Mr. Gavin has since resided. The 
parents of J. B. Gavin were George and 
Mary (Benton) Gavin, natives of Ireland, 
as were their ancestors for many genera- 
tions. In his early manhood, in his native 
land, George Gavin was a member of the 
Royal Irish constabulary, or government po- 
lice force, and as such did duty in many of 
the cities of Ireland. On locating in Ameri- 
ca he devoted himself lo farming. He was 
a man of good education and during the 
winter months found plenty of employment 
teaching. After moving to Wells county, 
for three years he rented land, but finding 
that unprofitable he determined to purchase 
a place of his own. A tract of eighty acres 
was bought in Liberty township and as soon 
as a home was prepared thereon the family 
moved and occupied it. It is the same land 
on which his grandson and namesake now 
lives, and a debt was incurred for the great- 
er part of the purchase price. This land was 
cleared, improved and added to until it be- 
came a superb farm of two hundred and ten 
acres, all in one body. To George and 
Mary Gavin seven children were born, viz: 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



38s 



Robert, now a-resident of Liberty township; 
Mary was the wife of Joseph Cobbum, but 
is now deceased; Sarah is the wife of Harri- 
son Snow and they hve in Kansas ; J. B. is 
the subject of this sketch and will be more 
particularly referred to hereafter; Delilah 
died at the age of ten years ; Henry J. died 
at the age of eight years ; Henrietta died on 
the voyage from Ireland. The father of this 
family served a number of terms as town- 
ship trustee. He was a Democrat, took an 
active part in politics and made his influence 
widely felt. His death occurred December 
12, 1882. 

J. B. Gavin attended the public schools 
of Liberty township until he was eighteen 
years of age. The yearly term was seldom 
longer than three months during the winter. 
George, the father, and Robert, the elder 
brother of J. B. Gavin, were both teachers 
and their attendance at school being con- 
sidered much more important than that of 
the latter, he was often required to remain 
at "ijome working when he should have been 
at school. His advantages for securing an 
education, therefore, did not equal those of 
the other children of the family. He, how- 
ever, was an apt pupil and when he did at- 
tend, it was to some purpose. When he 
reached the age of twenty his father ac- 
corded him a share of the crop raised on 
the farm, and this arrangement was con- 
tinued until his marriage and for five years 
thereafter. 

On March 31, 1870, James B. Gavin was 
united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Hedges, 
who was born July 6, 1848, in Harrison 
township. Wells county, Indiana. She was 
the daughter of Robert and Sophia (Kirk- 
wood) Hedges. The father of Robert was 
Elijah Hedges, a native of Virginia, but the 



progenitor of the family came from Eng- 
land. Robert Hedges was born in Fairfield 
county, Ohio, where he married Sophia 
Kirkwood, a native of Pennsylvania, and 
there he devoted himself to farming for a 
number of years. He moved his family to 
Harrison township, Wells county, in 1846, 
and there he still lives at the age of eighty- 
five years. Sophia died in August, 1870. 
Robert and Sophia Hedges were the par- 
ents of thirteen children, all of whom were 
living at the time of their mother's death, 
though three have died since. These were 
the children : Mary J., wife of Alex. Lati- 
more; Luicinda was the wife of Daniel 
Tuttle, but is now dead; Jonas, deceased; 
Rebecca is the wife of J. B. Gavin, 
the subject; James married Eunice Neff; 
Elizabeth was the wife of Philip Ulmer, 
but is now dead ; William resides in 
Whitley county, Indiana; Julia, wife 
of George Ulmer, superintendent of the 
Orphans' Home ; Joseph ; George resides in 
Kansas; Lewis resides in Pulaski county, 
Indiana; Samuel resides in Liberty town- 
ship; John resides in Harrison township. 
Robert Hedges was three times married, a 
daughter, Alice, being born to him by his 
last marriage. 

For five years after their marriage ^Ir. 
and Mrs. J. B. Gavin resided on the Gavin 
homestead, in the family of his parents, he 
operating the farm for his father. In 1875 
he purchased a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres where he now resides. The 
place was only partially cleared when pur- 
chased, and in buying it he incurred an in- 
debtedness of one thousand six hundred 
dollars. Through his industry and good 
management he paid off the debt within a 
very short time and purchased eighty acres 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



more, adjoining his farm on the north and 
unimproved. In 1881 he erected a barn 
seventy by forty feet, large, commodious 
and substantial. The following year he 
added another eighty acres to his already 
extensive farm, joining it on the west and 
later he purchased the interests of the other 
heirs in the old home place. He is now the 
owner of four hundred and eighty acres of 
superb farming land, in one body, all well 
ditched and under cultivation. His three 
sons have each a portion of this land, which 
they cultivate, each having a comfortable 
residence on his portion, with good, substan- 
tial barn and outbuildings. In 1889 Mr. 
Gavin erected for himself and family a beau- 
tiful, spacious hiime of nine rooms, artistic- 
ally finished and richly furnished. It is 
such a home as one rarely meets with in the 
rural districts. 

From boyhood J. B. Gavin has devoted 
his life to farming and stockraising and has 
clearly demonstrated that a comfortable 
fortune can be amassed in that business in a 
few years. When he and his wife began 
housekeeping for themselves, in 1875, ^'''si'' 
home was a little two-room structure which 
it would be a misnomer to term a cottage. 
They were rich in nothing but health, 
strength, industry and perseverance. By 
coupling prudence and economy with other 
good gifts which nature had bestowed upon 
them, they have accomplished results that 
many would believe impossible. The latest 
assessment rolls of the county show the 
valuation of their personal property alone to 
be two thousand one hundred dollars. Mr. 
Gavin is one of Liberty township's heaviest 
taxpayers and also tlie owner of considerable 
property in Blufifton. the county seat. 

To Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gavin eight chil- 



dren have been born, viz : George M., born 
May 23, 1 87 1, married Lucy Huffman, and 
they are the parents of one child, James 
Frederick; Charles B., born July 29, 1873, 
married Lydia Bays, resides on part of his 
father's farm and has four children, Harry, 
Cecil, George and Garrett; William J., born 
October 22, 1874, married Anna Howard, 
resides on part of his father's farm, and has 
two children, Victoria and Mary; Mary A., 
born November 25, 1876, is the wife of 
Benjamin Buckner and they have one child, 
William J.; Francis F., born June 27, 1879, 
resides at home with his parents; Minnie 
and Ninnie, born July 20, 1882 ; Minnie 
died July 25, 1882, and Ninnie died Sep- 
tember 12, 1887; Theopolis, born April 13, 
1888. Mrs. Gavin is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, an active work- 
er in all religious and charitable work and 
contributes liberally to every worthy cause. 
Mr. Gavin is a member of Lodge No. 747, 
I. O. O. F., at Liberty Center, and is much 
interested in lodge work. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and takes a deep interest in the 
success of his party, wielding an influence 
which aspirants for office are exceedingly 
anxious to secure. He is still practically in 
the prime of life. The weight of the fifty- 
seven years that he has seen sets lightly on 
his shoulders and his physical condition 
would indicate that existence had yet nearly 
half a century in store for him. Humanity 
is benefited bv such lives as his. 



JOEL KEMP. 



The importance that attaches to the lives, 
character and work of the early settlers of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



387 



\\'ells county and tlie influence they 
have exerted upon the cause of hu- 
manity and civiHzation is one of the 
most absorbing themes that can possibly 
attract the attention of the local chronicler 
or historian. If great and beneficent results 
— results that endure and benefit mankind — 
are the proper measure of the good men do, 
then who is there in the world's history that 
may take their places above the hardy pio- 
neer. To point out the way, to make pos- 
sible our present advancing civilization, its 
happy homes, its arts and sciences, its dis- 
coveries and inventions, its education, liter- 
ature and culture, its refinement and social 
life and joy, is to be the truly great bene- 
factors of mankind for all time. This was 
the great work accomplished by the early 
settlers and it is granted by all that they 
builded more wisely than they knew. Admit 
that but few ever realized in the dimmest 
way the transcendant possibilities tliat rest- 
ed upon their shoulders: grant it that their 
lives, except in certain instances, were some- 
what narrow and that they realized but little 
the great results that ultimately crowned 
their efforts : yet there exists the supreme 
fact that they followed their restless im- 
pulses, took their lives in their hands, pene- 
trated the wilderness and with a patient 
energy, resolution and self-sacrifice that 
stands alone and unparalleled, they worked 
out their allotted tasks, accomplished their 
destinies and today their descendants and 
others enjoy undisturbed the fruitage of 
their labors. 

Prominent among the worthy represen- 
tatives of the pioneer element in the county 
of Wells is the well-known gentleman to a 
review of whose life the attention of the 
reader is now directed. For manv vears 



Joel Kemp has been a forceful factor in the 
growth and prosperity of Harrison town- 
ship, and as such his name and reputation 
have extended far beyond the limits of the 
locality in which the greater part of his life 
has been spent. The subject's father was 
born in Maryland and his mother in Vir- 
ginia. Their respective families emigrated 
to Clark county, Ohio, and there Solomon 
Kemp and Elizabeth Baker were united in 
marriage. The former owned a farm in 
Ohio, but in 1839 he came to Wells county 
and there bought of Abe Studabaker a farm 
of two hundred and twelve acres situated in 
section 3, Harrison township, paying for 
the same one thousand dollars. He entered 
actively upon the operation of this farm and 
made it his home until his death in 1850. 
They were the parents of eight children, 
three boys and five girls, of whom there are 
now but two surviving, the subject and 
Amanda, the wife of Abe Xeuswander. 
The father willed all the land to the sub- 
ject. 

After his father's death Joel Kemp paid 
the other heirs for their interest in the home 
farm and he is now the owner of one 
hundred and sixty-two acres of the original 
farm. In his youth the only educational ad- 
\-antages he received were those to be ob- 
tained in the subscription schools of the 
neighborhood, but to the limited mental 
training he there acquired he has added by 
wide reading and close observation of men 
and events, so that today he is a thoroughly 
well-informed man and able to converse in- 
teligently on all the leading questions of the 
day. At first the only habitation on the 
farm was a log cabin, but the subject later 
replaced that with the comfortable and com- 
modious residence in which he now lives. 



388 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL4NA. 



He made many inprovements upon the place 
and by long years of earnest toil and wise 
management brought it up to a high stand- 
ard of excellence. He has not confined him- 
self strictly to one line of farming, but has 
been diversified in his operations, as all pro- 
gressive agriculturists should be, and has 
found a comfortable competence in the prod- 
ucts of the soil. 

Mr. Kemp was united in marriage with 
Miss Mahala Deam, the daughter of John 
A. Deam. The" Deam family came from 
Montgomery county, Ohio, to Wells county, 
in February, 1839, but Mrs. Kemp was born 
in the former county. This union was bless- 
ed with one child, Alice Olive, who is now 
the wife of George Studabaker, ex-auditor 
of Wells county. Politically Mr. Kemp is 
a Democrat, but, while taking a keen interest 
in the party's success, bears no active part 
in its campaigns, being content with the 
casting of an honest ballot. Fraternally he 
was a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, belonging to the subordinate 
lodge at Bluffton. Mr. Kemp, by a life of 
right living and strenuous endeavor, has 
earned a warm place in the hearts of all who 
know him. He is a devout lover of all that 
is pure, true and good, and is ever ready to 
encourage that which is good and to support 
that which is best. All find in him a friend 
and helper. He is neighborly and brotherly, 
candid, frank, sincere and generous, as well 
as kind and courteous. By the exercise of 
these qualities he has been blessed with a 
large number of warm personal friends and 
even mere acquaintances respect him for his 
exemplary life. Mr. Kemp has in his pos- 
session two parchment deeds, executed No- 
vember 7, 1835, and bearing the signature 
of President Andrew Jackson. 



JACOB JEFFERSON TODD. 

Among the distinguished jurists of 
Indiana the name of the late Jacob Jefferson 
Todd, of Bluffton, has long ,been accorded a 
prominent place. As an erudite lawyer his 
standing at the head of the Wells county bar 
was never questioned, and as a public 
spirited man of affairs his place in the his- 
torj' of his county and state is prominently 
and permanently fixed. Few so impressed 
their personality upon the people and in 
every relation of life he moved among his 
fellow men as one born to leadership. 

In tracing the genealogy of Mr. Todd 
it is learned that he was descended from a 
long line of sturdy and honorable ancestors, 
which, both in the lineal and collateral 
branches, have been prominent in the history 
of the nation, the family having been identi- 
fied with colonial affairs for many years an- 
tecedent to the war for independence. His 
father, Jacob Todd, was born in Beaver 
county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1805, the 
youngest child of Samuel and Lucy (Shiv- 
ers) Todd, who were the parents of seven 
sons and seven daughters. Samuel Todd's 
father was Alexander Todd, one of the ear- 
liest settlers of Baltimore county, Maryland, 
and a man of much more than local reputa- 
tion. When a young man, Jacob Todd mar- 
ried Jane Thomas, whose birth occurred in 
Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 2nd day 
of January, 1807, she being the eldest of a 
family of twelve children, three sons and 
nine daughters, born to Enos and Margaret 
(Cameron) Thomas, the former a native of 
Chester county, Pennsylvania, and a son of 
Seth and Martha (Kirk) Thomas, and the 
latter the daughter of Lewis and Francis 
(Suter) Cameron. Briefly stated, the origin 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



389 



of the several elements in the genealogical 
line are as follows: The Todds were of 
Scotch-Irish extraction; the Shivers of 
Scotch origin. Seth Thomas was a native 
of Wales, while the Kirk family was of 
Quaker descent, its first American repre- 
sentatives having come from England in 
1682 as members of William Penn's colony, 
which settled in Philadelphia. Louis Cam- 
eron was born and reared in the highlands of 
Scotland, his wife, Francis Suter, having 
been a native of Linconshire, England. The 
marriage of Jacob Todd and Jane Thomas 
was solemnized January 14, 1830, and their 
union was blessed with eleven children, con- 
cerning whom the following is a brief re- 
cord : ( I ) Samuel, the oldest son, was born 
October 24, 1830. married. May 11, 1853, 
Rebecca Isabelle, who bore him children, 
Lizzie J., wife of John C. Anderson, Samuel 
T., deceased, and two that died in infancy. 
Samuel T. Todd departed this life January 
II, 1850. (2) John Wesley, the second in 
order of birth, was born April ig, 1832, 
married Abigail Glas, who died August 24, 
1859, leaving a daughter, Mary Jane; the 
only son of this marriage died in infancy 
unnamed. John W. Todd married for his 
■second wife Angeline Biddle, who became 
the mother of three sons and five daughters. 
During the war of the Rebellion John W. 
served as second lieutenant in Company G, 
One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry, 
and distinguished himself as a brave and 
gallant soldier. (3) Lucy was born Febru- 
ary II, 1834, and married Asa McDaniel, 
who died July 15, 1855, leaving one son, 
John T. Subsequently Mrs. McDaniel be- 
came the wife of Nathan Tobey and bore 
him four sons and two daughters. (4) Mar- 
garet Ann, born June 28, 1836, married 



Calvin Biddle, to whom she bore two sons 
and two daughters. (5) Uriah was born 
on the 5th of August, 1838, entered the mar- 
riage relation with Lois Smitley and died 
April 14, 1880, leaving two sons and two 
daughters, three having died in infancy. 
L'riah Todd was a soldier in the late Civil 
war, entering the army in 186 1 as private 
in Captain Barber's company. Fourteenth 
Ohio Cavalry, for the three months service. 
Later he became second lieutenant of Com- 
pany K, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry, and 
w-as afterwards first lieutenant of Company 
H, First United States Regulars. It is a 
fact w'orthy of note that he was the first 
citizen of Wells county to enlist for service 
in the Union army. (6) Mary Jane was 
born September 26, 1840; she became the 
wife of Samuel Bowman, bore him nine 
children, three dying in infancy, and depart- 
ed this life on the 24th of April, 1878. (7) 
Jacob Jefiferson, whose name furnishes the 
caption of this article, was the seventh in 
order of birth. (8) Nancy, whose birth oc- 
curred October 9, 1845, married John V. 
Allen, a member of Company A, Thirty- 
fourth Indiana Infantry, in the late war, and 
became the mother of one son and one 
daughter. (9) Elizabeth Ellen, born De- 
cember 22, 1847, married Ransom Allen, a 
union resulting in the birth of two sons and 
two daughters. Mr. Allen was also a soldier 
during the late Rebellion, serving as a pri- 
vate in Company A, Thirteenth Indiana In- 
fantry. (10) Simpson was born August 
5, 185 1 ; he took'to wife Harriet E. Hoover, 
who presented him with one son and one 
daughter. He departed this life in April, 
1896. (11) Bathsheba Isodene, the young- 
est of the family, was born on the i8th day 
of September, 1885. By her marriage with 



390 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



John A. Glass she had five children, of whom 
two sons and one daughter are living. 

, Immediately after their marriage Jacob 
and Jane Todd took up their abode on a farm 
in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and con- 
tinued to reside there until 185 1. In that 
year Mr. Todd disposed of his homestead 
and joined the tide of emigration to north- 
eastern and northwestern Indiana. The 
long journey to the new home was made 
in the primitive manner peculiar to that per- 
iod, the equipment consisting of a covered 
wagon and buggy and in this way, after en- 
countering many obstacles and meeting with 
many interesting experiences in the dense 
and in many places almost trackless forests, 
the family finally, on the 12th day of Octo- 
ber, 185 1, unloaded their few effects at what 
was destined to be their future place of abode. 
Mr. Todd settled on the northwest quarter 
of section 19, township 28 north, range 12 
east, in what is now the highly favored and 
prosperous county of Wells. The farm upon 
which he located was yet a portion of an 
unbroken forest and the prospect at the time 
was anything but encouraging. Nothing 
daunted, however, every member of the fam- 
ily capable of doing manual labor set valiant- 
ly to work to improve and reclaim from 
nature's grasp the rich and bountiful 
benefices she had in store. Coming here a 
poor man, Mr. Todd was enabled by in- 
dustry, frugality and excellent management 
to develop a fine farm and attain a high de- 
gree of success in the pursuit of agriculture 
and the accumulation of wealth. He was a 
man of broad intelligence and progressive 
ideas and in many respects stood far in ad- 
vance of the majority of men of his neigh- 
borhood. While the average farmer of that 
period was content to follow the drudge- 



like work and give no thought to the future, 
his superior judgment far transcended such 
narrow and sordid limitation, his aim being 
to more than keep pace with progress and im- 
provement in the community, and he moved 
among his neighbors and fellow citizens as 
a natural leader. He was always honored 
for his unswerving integrity in thought, 
word and deed, for his vigorous and force- 
ful individuality and for his eminent spirit 
of justice and charity as exhibited in his 
daily intercourse with his fellow man. Mr. 
Todd was a symmetrically developed man, 
strong mentally, incorruptible morally and 
physically a prince among his fellows, being 
six feet one and a half inches and weighing 
about two hundred pounds. He lived a life 
of signal honor and usefulness, exerted a 
powerful influence for good in the com- 
munity and upon all with whom he came in 
contact, and in his death, which occurred 
on the 3rd of November, 186 1, the county 
lost one of its noblest pioneers and most in- 
telligent citizens, while to posterity was be- 
stowed the priceless heritage of a good name 
and an honorable reputation. Mr. Todd 
was a devout member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and exemplified in his daily 
walk the faith which he professed. He and 
his wife became identified with the denomi- 
nation soon after their marriage, their re- 
spective parents having also been Methodists 
and noted for their piety and activity in dis- 
seminating the truths of revealed religion 
among those with whom the}' mingled. Mrs. 
Todd sur\-i\ed her husband a number of 
years, departing this life on the 5th of June, 
1888, at the old homestead hallowed by so 
many tender recollections and sacred associ- 
ations. To her were accorded the filial 
solicitude and veneration of her children and 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



391 



her children's children. Her life was one of 
signal purity and beauty and her generosity 
and sympathetic character endeared her to 
all who came within the sphere of her gentle, 
loving influence. 

Reverting specifically to the life of Jacob 
Jefferson Todd, it is learned that he was 
born on the old family homestead in Beaver 
county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1843. 
When less than eight years of age he came 
with his parents to Wells county, Indiana, 
and grew to maturity amid the pioneer 
scenes of Jeffersini township, lending in his 
youth effective assistance in clearing and im- 
proving the eighty acres which constituted 
the original farm. His preliminary educa- 
tional advantages were such as the district 
schools afforded, after which he was enabled 
to prosecute his studies for a time in 
Roanoke Seminary. Huntington county, 
and still later in a college at Fort Wayne. 
His was not a nature to tolerate subjective 
inactivity, accordingly he forthwith pro- 
ceeded to put his intellectual acquirements 
to a practical test by engaging in the work 
of teaching, a vocation to which he devoted 
his attention during the winter months from 
186 1 to 1866 inclusive, winning an enviable 
reputation as an able and popular educator. 
Essentially loyal and patriotic, j\Ir. Todd 
was one of the first of Wells county's brave 
sons to respond to President Lincoln's call 
for volunteers when the perpetuity of the 
government was threatened by the armed 
hosts of treason in i860. The thundering 
of the rebel guns against Fort Sumter 
struck a responsive protest in his heart, and 
his courage was that of his convictions, for 
in August. 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 
Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry. By reason 
of impaired health he was not able to pass 



the physical examination prerequisite to ad- 
mission to the service, which fact caused him 
no little disappointment and chagrin. Thus 
forced to limit his efforts to such assistance 
as he could render the cause aside from the 
scene of action, he was constrained to bide 
his time until he shoiild have sufficiently re- 
covered his health to go to the front. In 
April, 1864, he again enlisted, this time with 
better success, becoming a member of Com- 
pany D, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which, during 
the summer of that year, served under Gen. 
Milroy at Tullahoma ' and Duck River 
Bridge in the railroad defense department. 
He served with distinction until the follow- 
ing October wdien he was honorably dis- 
charged, after which he returned home 
and again resumed the peaceful pursuit of 
civil life. Having attained his majority, he 
cast his first ballot that fall for Oliver P. 
Morton, the war governor of Indiana, and 
the following November had the satisfaction 
of depositing a vote for Abraham Lincoln, 
\\-ho that year was elected for the second 
time President of the United States. 

In ]\Iarch, 1865, Mr. Todd was appoint- 
ed assessor of Jefferson township, in which 
capacity he served one year, this being the 
beginning of his public and official career. 
On the 4th of April following he began the 
work of preparing himself for the law, for 
which exacting profession he had previously 
decided. Reading under the direction of 
competent instructors, he pursued his studies 
with so much earnestness and zeal that he 
was able to secure admission to the bar on 
the 22nd day of May, 1866. It is a signifi- 
cant fact that he studied law in the same of- 
fice in which he afterwards practiced so 
successfully for a period of more than thirty 



392 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



years, a case without parallel in the history 
of the Wells county bar. Opening an office 
in Bluffton in 1868, he gained prestige by 
rapidly successive degrees and soon built up 
a large and lucrative practice in the courts 
of Wells and neighboring counties, which 
always exemplified a clientele of represent- 
ative order. The interim between his ad- 
mission to the bar and the time of beginning 
the practive was ftlled by an incumbency as 
deputy internal revenue collector for Wells 
county, and in March, 1868, he was further 
honored by being elected clerk of the cor- 
poration of Bluffton, serving one year in the 
latter capacity. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Todd was 
a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, 
and his services were enlisted to good ef- 
fect in promoting and greatly furthering 
its interests. He early became a judicious 
counsellor and an industrious worker, while 
his leadership was duly recognized and fully 
appreciated during the many years of his ac- 
tive career as a forceful factor in local, state 
and national politics. He was appointed 
alternate delegate to the national Republi- 
can convention at Philadelphia in June, 
1872, and was a delegate to the national 
convention at Chicago in 1880, which nomi- 
nated Garfield and Arthur, being a member 
of the committee on permanent organization. 
In 1882 he was a member of the committee 
on resolutions at the Republican state con- 
vention and he urged with great earnestness 
and vigor the adoption of the resolution for 
the submission of the prohibition amend- 
ment, his advocacy of this measure being 
confined not only to the convention but con- 
tinued upon the hustings throughout the 
ensuing campaign. In 1886 he was promi- 
nently and favorably mentioned as a most 



eligible candidate for the office of lieutenant 
governor, but would not allow his name to 
go before the nominating convention. 

By reason of his valuable services to his 
party Mr. Todd was tendered several im- 
portant appointive offices by the national ad- 
ministration, which for various reasons he 
saw fit to decline. Among these was that of 
townsite commissioner of Oklahoma terri- 
tory, tendered by President Harrison in 
1890, a position of much importance and re- 
sponsibility and for the duties of which his 
sound judgment and pre-eminent business 
ability peculiarly fitted him. In February 
of the same year he was tendered, at the 
hand of Governor Alvin P. Hovey, the ap- 
pointment as member of the board of com- 
missioners to construct and furnish the 
asylums for the insane at Logansport. Rich- 
mond and Evansville, which position he ac- 
cepted and on which he served with signal 
ability and conscienti(ius fidelity until the 
completion of the allotted work. On the 
6th of April, 1895, Governor Matthews ap- 
pointed him a member of the board of con- 
trol of the state hospital for the insane at 
Logansport and subsequently he was made 
president of the board, discharging his of- 
ficial functions with credit and dispatch. 

In June, 1894, Mr. Todd was nominated 
for judge of the twenty-eighth judicial cir- 
cuit, comprising the counties of Blackford 
and Wells,, and such was his great personal 
popularity as well as his recognized quali- 
fications for the bench that he was so far 
enable to reduce the overwhelming Demo- 
cratic majority as to fail of election by the 
small margin of fifty-six votes, receiving the 
largest number of votes ever cast for a Re- 
publican candidate in Wells county, running 
four hundred and fortv-nine ahead of the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



393 



party ticket. In Octoljer, 1890, he was given 
distinctive consideration by President Har- 
rison, who tendered him the appointment as 
commissioner of allot lands in severalty to 
the Indians on the Puyallup reservation in 
the state of Washington, but the demands 
upon his time by other duties led him to de- 
cline the offer. Mr. Todd's last public po- 
sition was as member of the Indian com- 
mission to the North West Centennial held 
at Toledo in 1902, to which he was appoint- 
ed by Gov. James H. Mount and with which 
he was connected at the time of his death. 

In his relations to the Wells county bar 
and in the legal circles of the state, Mr. Todd 
stood high, having acquired distinctive prec- 
edence as an able and scholarly lawyer, and 
an honorable, judicious and eminently suc- 
cessful practitioner. He was a man of pro- 
nounced intellectuality, broad human sym- 
pathies and tolerance and imbued with fine 
sensibilities and clearly defined principles. 
Honor and integrity were synonyms with his 
name, and he occupied a conspicuous place 
in the confidence and regard of the people 
of the city and county in which the greater 
part of his life was passed and his distin- 
guished success achieved. The eminent dis- 
tinction he attained at the bar offers the 
best evidence of his capability in his pro- 
fession. Familiar with all the details of 
practice, to which may be added superior 
forensic abilities and remarkable influence 
over juries, he easily stood in the front rank 
of W^ells county's jurists and as an all- 
round, symmetrically developed lawyer, had 
few equals among the eminent legal minds 
of the state. Much of the success which at- 
tended him throughout his professional 
career was doubtless due to the thorough 
preparation with which he presented his 



cases in court and also to his absolute con- 
fidence in the justices of his client's cause. 
Basing his efforts upon these two con- 
siderations, from which there are unfortun- 
ately too many lapses in legal ranks, it natur- 
ally followed that he seldom lost a case 
in which his support was enlisted. 

Mr. Todd first started in practice by 
himself, but soon afterwards became as- 
sociated with Hon. B. G. Shinn, now of 
Hartford City. This firm was subsequently 
changed to Todd & Martin and still later to 
Todd and Rhinehart, Todd & Duglay, Wil- 
son & Todd and finally Todd & Todd, his 
associate in the firm last named being his 
son. Nelson Kellogg Todd, a sketch of 
whom will be found elsewhere in this vol- 
ume. 

Referring to the domestic life of ]^Ir. 
Todd, the record states that he was married 
on the 17th day of April, 1866. to Aliss 
Rachel J. Kellogg, daughter of the late Nel- 
son Kellogg, of Bluffton, the union result- 
ing in the birth of the son whose name is 
mentioned above. Subsequently, August 
12, 1876, he entered the marriage relation 
with Mrs. Mary J. Klinck, widow of Dwight 
Klinck, who was drowned on the illfated 
steamer Schiller, which went down while 
on a voyage to Europe on the 7th of ]\Iay, 
1875. Mrs. Todd is the oldest daughter of 
John and Rebecca (Angel) Studabaker, of 
Bluffton, the father a well known and highly 
respected citizen noted for the energy and 
success with which he prosecuted all of his 
undertakings. The mother was especially 
noted for her generosity and acts of kind- 
ness and for her faithfulness as a worker in 
the cause of temperance, humanity and 
Christianity. Mrs. Todd was educated in 
Bluffton and at Ft. ^^'avne College. She is 



394 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



an active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, greatly interested in the work of the 
Sunday school, as teacher and official, and 
for a number of years has been untiring in 
her efforts to advance the standard of morals 
in the community and disseminate the truths 
of religion among those with whom she 
mingles. She is a lady of refinement and 
varied culture and, while domestic in her 
tastes, is a recognized leader in social, liter- 
ary and religious circles. By her first mar- 
riage she had four daughters, ]\Iaggie, Bes- 
sie, Lucy and Mattie, the two older deceas- 
ed: Maggie, who married David A. Wal- 
mar, died October 17, 1886; Bessie, who be- 
came the wife of James W. B. Sale, departed 
this life September 7, 1884; Lucy is now 
Mrs. Chester Thorp and Mattie is the wife 
of Luster E. Roush. The second marriage 
of ]\Ir. Todd was blessed with two children, 
Mary, born August 9, 1878, and Ralph S., 
whose birth took place on the 5th of August, 
1880. 

Mr. Todd united with the Alethodist 
Episcopal church when a mere }outh and re- 
mained a loyal and devoted member of the 
same until called from the church militant 
to the church triumphant. For thirty years 
he held various official positions in the local 
congregation to which he belonged, notably 
among which were those of steward, trustee 
and Sunday school superintendent. He was 
a member of the Northern Indiana lay con- 
ference in the years of 1876 and 1880, and 
in 1884 served as a lay delegate to the gen- 
eral conference which convened at Philadel- 
phia in May of that year. Until physical dis- 
ability overtook him he was one of the main 
stays and active in the Bluffton church and 
contributed liberally of his means to its 
financial support. 



In his fraternal relations, Mr. Todd had 
a state reputation. He was made a Mason 
in Ossian Lodge No. 297 and for a period of 
four years served as worshipful master of 
the lodge at Bluffton. In 1884 he was high 
priest of Bluffton Royal Arch Masons, in ad- 
dition to which important office he was also 
elected eminent commander of Bluffton 
Commandery, Knights Templar, when that 
body was chartered in this city. In the order 
of the Eastern Star, he was worthy patron 
of Crescent Chapter and in the state organ- 
ization served as grand lecturer, grand as- 
sociate patron and grand patron. In the 
grand lodge of Indiana Masons he passed 
the different chairs and in 1890 was honored 
by being elected grand master, the duties of 
which exalted station he discharged for one 
year. ]\Ir. Todd was a charter member of 
Lew Dailey Pest, G. A. R., at Bluffton, 
which he represented in 1891 in the grand 
encampment at Detroit. As a member of 
the committee appointed by the Grand Army 
of the Republic he aided in revising the his- 
tory of the late Civil war as outlined in the 
text books now used in the public schools, 
in this capacity rendering valuable service 
to the youth of the land in acquainting them 
with the underlying causes and wonderful 
results of that greatest of all rebellions 
against constituted authority. For five years 
Mr. Todd was cjuartermaster of the Fourth 
Regiment in the old Indiana National Guard 
and for some time served as a member of 
Governor Chase's staff with the rank of lieu- 
tenant colonel. His name adorns the char- 
ters of the Knights of Honor and the Tribe 
of Ben Hur in Bluffton and he filled the of- 
fice of past dictator in the former organiza- 
tion. Mr. Todd was ever a friend and liber- 
al patron of public improvements and aided 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



395 



with his influence and means every enter- 
prise having for its object the material ad- 
vancement of Bluffton and Wells county. 
He was largely influential in securing the 
requisite encouragement and aid in building 
the Ft. Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville and 
the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Rail- 
roads through the county of Wells, in ad- 
dition to which his alert and progressive 
spirit proved a potent factor in promoting 
various local interests and manifold indus- 
tries. In every relation of life he was an 
enterprising, progressive, manly man, whose 
prominent aim was to do the right as he 
saw and understood the right. Of dignified 
but pleasant presence, he was easily ap- 
proachable by the humblest of his fellows, 
and thousands the county over can tell of 
his many acts of kindness, of the cheery 
grasp of the hand, the pleasant greeting, of 
some aid or favor when most needed, of 
friendly advice that set their footsteps aright 
or of the words of cheer or comfort extend- 
ed when the soul was bowed down in deep- 
est sorrow. His was not only a useful life, 
but a full life, replete with all that was cal- 
culated to elevate and ennoble humanity, and 
he was easily the peer of any of his fellows 
in the essential elements of true, virile man- 
hood and upright Christian citizenship. He 
adorned every station to which he was called 
and through many future generations his 
name and fame will be cherished by the peo- 
ple of his city and county as a jurist of 
pre-eminent ability, as an official whom no 
bribes could corrupt nor the tongue of flat- 
tery swerve from the path of duty, as a 
Christian without pretense and as i man 
who. seeing and understanding the right, 
strove by all means within his power to do 
the same as he would answer to his con- 
science and to his God. 



The sickness which finally terminated in 
the death of ^Ir. Todd was of long duration. 
but he endured his sufferings with heroic 
fortitude and sublime resignation. In hope 
of regaining his health, he sought medical 
aid at the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michi- 
gan, and again at West Baden Springs, In- 
diana, but without avail, and it was only by 
the exercise of his indomitable will he was 
enabled to baffle the fell destroyer during the 
last twelve months of his life. He was anx- 
ious and determined to live and did not give 
up the struggle until within a few days before 
the end came. On the street ,at various 
times in pleasant weather he maintained the 
cheer}' disposition which was always one of 
his pronounced characteristics and in spite 
of his sufferings kept in close touch with the 
trend of events and gave personal attention 
to his business affairs until the summons 
came and he yielded up his great but gentle 
spirit to the God who gave it. He departed 
this life on a beautiful Sunday in the most 
beautiful month of the year. May 13, 1900, 
dying as he had lived, a Christian, firm in 
the faith of the Redeemer and with a knowl- 
edge that his departure was only a transition 
from pain and suffering to a realm of eternal 
])eace and triumph. \Mien court was called 
the following Monday the bar of which he 
had long been an honored and distinguished 
member passed appropriate resolutions, con- 
taining complimentary references to his 
character -and standing as a lawyer. 
Eliminating the greater part of the bio- 
graphical mention, the resolutions adopted 
bv the bar were as follows : 

Jacob J. Todd was born in Beaver county, 
Pennsylvania, March 12, 1843. and died at Bluffton, 
Indiana, May 13, 1900, aged fifty-seven years, two 
months and one day. In early childhood he re- 
moved with his parents to Jefferson township, 



396 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Wells county, Indiana, where he lived upon a farm 
until after he attained his majority. In early man- 
hood he taught country schools, but came to Bluff- 
ton in 1865, and became a student of the law. He 
entered upon the practice of his chosen profes- 
sion in 1866 and continued a member of the bar 
thirty-four years. During all this time he en- 
joyed a large and lucrative practice. He became 
quite familiar with statutory law and devoted 
himself very largely to probate practice, collections 
and general office work. In all these specialties of 
his profession he excelled. In the history of the 
bar, no more reliable, trustworthy and competent 
attorney in this line of labor ever practiced in 
Bluffton. He was an ideal husband and father 
and alive to the wants and necessities of the 
community and an active, untiring supporter of 
every enterprise calculated to promote the best in- 
terests of the city and county. For more than a 
third of a century Bluffton has been his home. Here 
he has lived honored and respected as few men 
have ever been by his townsmen; here he died 
at one o'clock, on Sunday, May 13, 1900, mourned 
by all his neighbors. The private character and 
life of Jacob J. Todd were without stain and above 
reproach. He was a man of deep religious convic- 
tions, devotedly attached to his church, but he 
was too liberal to be a bigot, and too just to be in- 
tolerant. He was a man of excellent social quali- 
ties, and his courtesy and kindness were unfailing. 
When such a man dies it is appropriate to mourn. 

Resolved. That we deplore the death of Jacob 
J. Todd because of his great worth as a man, a cit- 
izen and a brother. 

Resolved, That we present to the family of the 
departed our sincere sympathy and condolence 
in their bereavement. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be 
spread on record in the order book of the Wells 
circuit court. 

John K. Rineh.\rt. 
J. S. Dailet. 
Levi Mock. 

The following are the resolutions adopt- 
ed by the official board of the ]\Iethodist 
Episcopal church of Bluffton, with which 
Mr. Todd had long been prominently identi- 
fied. 

We, the members of the official board of the 
Bluffton Methodist Episcopal church, feel most 
keenly the great loss we have sustained in the 



death of our Brother Jacob J. Todd. We find it 
difficult to realize that he is no more one of our 
number. He has been a member of this city for 
the past thirty-three years, and in that long period 
of usefulness his life has been before us as an 
open book. We can recall his many and valued 
qualities as a member of this board. Prominent 
among these was his intense loyalty to every 
interest of the church he loved so well. He was 
one prominent among us who held up the hands 
of the pastor and helped to lighten his burdens. 
As an evidence of this loyalty, every pastor who 
has ever served the Bluffton church has always 
felt the fullest freedom in partaking of the hospi- 
tality of Brother Todd's home. He possessed 
qualities which made him peculiarly valuable as a 
member of this board. How often has he infused 
his hopefulness and courage into our hearts and 
led us to look upon the bright side when we have 
been disposed to regard the future as dark and un- 
certain. 

Our Brother Todd took a broad and practical 
view of the work of the church, and his highest 
wish was that Zion should prosper in every line. 
He always lent a willing and helpful hand to every 
enterprise of the church. He was always jealous 
for the good name of the church, and did his part 
toward bringing all the work up to his high ideal. 

We shall miss his counsel and his help. In 
fact his death inflicts an irreparable loss upon the 
church and upon this board. We shall use due 
diligence in seeing to it that the influence of his 
life of devotion to a cause we all so much love 
shall not be lost upon us, but shall be treasured by 
us as one of the choicest memories of our service 
in the cause of the Master. 

P. A. Allen. 

J.4JtES P. H.VLE. 

D. H. Sw.^^iM. 

The funeral of Mr. Todd, conducted 
after the beautiful and sublime ceremonies of 
the Masonic fraternity, was attended by a 
large concourse of his sorrowing fellow 
citizens of Bluffton and Wells county, while 
many friends and admirers from a distance 
were present to pay the last sad tribute of 
respect to his memory. The Warren. 
Ossian and Decatur Masonic lodges were 
present in a body, while notice was received 
that representatives of the lodges from 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



397 



Hartford City, Ft. W^ayne, Montpelier and 
Huntington were in attendance. Grand 
Master William Geake, of Ft. Wayne; 
Deputy Grand Master O. E. Halloway, 
Knightstown ; Senior Grand Warden O. W. 
Brownback, of Pendleton; Grand Secretary 
Wm. H. Smythe, Indianapolis, and Past 
Masters Edward O'Rourke, of Ft. Wayne, 
and Calvin W. Prather were present and 
had the ceremonies in charge. The pall 
bearers were as follows : W. H. Bassett, J. 
S. Dailey, J. P. Hale. W. L. Kiger, J. K. 
Rinehart, L. B. Stevens, D. H. Swaim and 
J. W. Tribolet. 



GEORGE L. SAUNDERS. 

\Miat a strange fascination the business 
of newspaper publishing has for all persons 
who have ever become skilled in the calling. 
Men have followed it "for years, cried out in 
anguish at the incessant grind, yearned for 
an opportunity to let go, even at a sacrifice, 
and when it came and they let go, reveled 
in their coveted liberty for only a few short 
weeks, when they were just as insistent in 
their desire to get back into the harness as 
they had been in the first place to get un- 
hitched. An old newspaper man who had 
followed the calling for more than fifty 
years prayed to be relieved of the tread-mill 
work that he had followed nearly all his life. 
His prayer was answered. He sold out at 
a figure that rendered him independent and 
then declared his intention of taking a good, 
long, well-earned rest. In less than six 
months he was pleading for the privilege of 
buying his old plant back again at an ad- 
vance, and when it was denied him he went 



into an adjoining county and bought another 
plant. In describing his feelings, he said, 
"A man suffers the pains of purgatory in 
the business, but he suffers the tortures of 
hell when out of it." That is not the experi- 
ence of one or a dozen, but of the many who 
have ever become wedded to the tripod. 

The subject of this sketch, George L. 
Saunders, of BlufTton,. is still comparatively 
young. He was born September i, 1866, 
in Muncie, Indiana, and hence is but little 
more than thirty-six years old. Neverthe- 
less, ten years ago he was afflicted with the 
newspaper fever and only secured permanent 
relief by buying an interest in the Blufftoit 
Banner. 

\\'illiam and Ellen Saunders were the 
parents of George L. Saunders. At the time 
of the birth of the latter they resided in 
Muncie, where they remained until 1868, 
when they removed to Green, Jay county, re- 
maining there until 1876, when the family 
moved to Portland, where the father still re- 
sides. There were five children in the fam- 
ily, but two of them, both girls, with their 
mother, are dead. In the common schools 
of Portland George L. Saunders received 
his education. In securing it he had the wis- 
dom to subordinate the ornamental to the 
useful. Realizing that his time in the 
school room must necessarily be brief, he 
endeavored to secure all the valuable knowl- 
edge he could in that time. On leaving 
school, he entered the office of the Portland 
Sun, for the purpose of learning the print- 
ing business. The paper was then edited by 
B. S. Gray, son of Hon. Isaac P. Gray, an 
ex-governor of Indiana and United States 
minister to Mexico under President Cleve- 
land. In this office Mr. Saunders continued 
until he became a skilled printer and news- 



398 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



paper man of recognized ability. In 1886 
Afi. Gray retired from the publication of 
the Sun and upon his recommendation 
George L. Saunders secured a position in the 
government printing office at Washington. 
It speaks well for the native ability and apti- 
tude of Mr. Saunders that after so brief a 
time in a country printing office he was able 
to secure and hold for more than eight years, 
and until it was voluntarily surrendered, a 
position in an establishment of such magni- 
tude as that of the government printing of- 
fice. On resigning his governmental posi- 
tion, in 1894, he returned to Portland and 
purchased a half interest in the Sun office, 
in which he had secured his knowledge ol 
the printing business. His business 'partner 
was W. W. Timmonds, and for four years, 
or until 1898. this association continued. 
The Sun has always been a handsome, read- 
able and interesting publication, but during 
this period it was especially welcome in the 
homes of its patrons. Upon dissolution of 
the partnership Mr. Saunders disposed of 
his interests to his partner and retired from 
the publication. At the time of his retire- 
ment from the Portland Sun, Mr. Saunders 
had been connected with the printing busi- 
ness for nearly twenty years. To say that 
he was greatly relieved on getting out and 
that he enjoyed for a time his freedom, ex- 
presses it only mildly. Like other pubhsh- 
ers. he had wearied of the incessant, eternal 
grinding. Liberty was sweet and enjoyable, 
but it did not remain so. He engaged in 
different pursuits, in which he met with suc- 
cess and prospered, but there was that con- 
stant, unaccountable desire, that unreason- 
able yearning for the odor of the printing 
office. Forgetting that he had nothing to 
do with the news, except read what others 
published, he often caught himself outlining 



matters which came under his observation 
and which deserved to be written up. He 
had the newspaper faculty and not to exercise 
it was painful to him. The result was in- 
evitable. In January, 1902, he purchased an 
interest in the Blufifton Daily and Weekly 
Banner, a publication that has been regular- 
ly conducted for more than half a century. 
From its earliest infancy, in 1850, it has 
been recognized as one of the leading Demo- 
cratic newspapers in eastern Indiana and at 
different times its publishers have been some 
of the foremost men of the state. To write 
its history would be like writing the history 
of the Democratic party of the state. It is 
a splendid, prosperous publication with 
hosts of friends throughout the northern 
and eastern part of Indiana. 

On Octolaer 10, 1889, George L. Saun- 
ders was united in marriage to Miss Belle 
E\-ans, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. J. 
E\'ans, of Winchester, Indiana. She is a 
lady of refinement, many accomplishments 
and good education, being a graduate of the 
\\^inchester high school. To them have been 
born three daughters, one only of whom is 
living, the others having died in infancy. In 
their domestic relations Mr. and Mrs. Saun- 
ders are most happy, their home being a 
model American home. With a prosperous, 
perhaps a brilliant, business career before 
him, there is no reason why it should not 
continue to be all that it is at present. 



CHARLES M. MILLER. 

Charles M. Miller was born on a farm in 
the vicinity of the yillage of Murray. Wells 
county. Indiana, on the 20th of May. 185 1. 
being the sixth in order of birth of the ten 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



399 



cliildren of Jacob and Mary A. (Sutton) 
Miller, the family comprising five sons and 
five daughters, of whom four of the sons 
and five of the daughters are living at the 
present time. Jacob ^filler was born in 
Pennsylvania, of stanch German ancestry, 
the name having been identified with the 
annals of the Keystone state from an early 
epoch in its history. He became one of the 
pioneers of Wells county, Indiana, whither 
he came as a young man in the year 1837. 
In his native state he had learned the trade 
of millwright, and to this he devoted his 
attention until after his marriage, when he 
took up his abode on a quarter section of 
land in Lancaster township, this county, ef- 
fectually reclaiming the same and developing 
a valuable farm, upon which he continued to 
reside for many years, the old homestead 
being the birthplace of all his children. In 
his declining days Jacob Miller retired from 
the farm and passed the golden evening of 
his life in the home of his eldest daughter, 
where he received that deep filial solicitude 
which was so justly due him. Here he died 
at the age of eighty-two years. The mother 
of the subject was a woman of noble and 
gracious attributes. She was a daughter of 
Rev. Elijah Sutton, a pioneer clergyman 
of the Baptist church in this section of the 
Union, and who is said to have preached the 
first sermon ever delivered in ^^^ells county. 
His descendants assembled each year in re- 
union on the old homestead farm, one and 
one-half miles north of Murray, this county, 
the twenty-fourth annual reunion having 
been held in the month of June, 1902. 

Charles M. Miller, whose name initiates 
this review, received his preliminary educa- 
tional training in the common schools of 
the village of Murray and continued to as- 



sist in the work of the old home farm until 
he had attained the age of about seventeen 
years. During the ensuing four years he 
devoted his attention, through the winter 
months, to teaching in the district schools 
of Lancaster township, while through the re- 
sults of such effort he was in the interim en- 
abled to defray his expenses while continuing 
his personal study in the graded schools of 
Blufifton. In, '.he spring of 1873 he entered 
into a partnership association with James 
Sewell and opened a general store at Alur- 
ray, the enterprise being conducted under 
the firm name of Miller & Sewell until the 
autumn following, when the junior mem 
ber was succeeded by L. F. Shreve, and the 
business was continued successfully under 
the title of Miller & Shreve, until April, 
1879, when Mr. Miller sold his interest to 
his partner and removed to Blufifton, where 
he accepted a clerkship in the dry goods 
establishment of H. C. Arnold, with whom 
he remained consecutively until January. 
1883, when he efifected in this city the pur- 
chase of the stock and business of Killer- 
man Brothers and established himself in the 
grocery and queensware business, which he 
continued until his election to public office. 
Ever according a stanch allegiance to the 
Democratic party, Mr. Miller became an 
active and efficient worker in its ranks with- 
in a short time after taking up his resi- 
dence in Bluffton, and his zeal in the cause, 
as well as his unmistakable eligibility, re- 
ceived recognition of definite and gratifying 
order when he was made the nominee of his 
party for the office of county auditor, to 
which he was elected by a satisfactory and 
flattering majority in November, 1886. 
After his election he disposed of his gro- 
j eery business and in the interim of a year 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



which elapsed before his induction into of- 
fice he devoted his attention to buying grain 
for H. C. Arnold. In November, 1887, Mr. 
Miller entered upon the discharge of his du- 
ties as auditor, and served in this capacity 
for the ensuing four years. The import- 
ant work of constructing the fine new court 
house was consummated during his regime. 

With the discovery of natural gas in In- 
diana Mr. Miller became financially and ac- 
tively interested in the development of the 
gas fields, and thus was led to later identify 
himself with the concomitant industry of 
developing the oil wells of the state. He 
was one of the original members of the di- 
rectorate of the Bluiifton Light & Fuel Com- 
pany and for two years was secretary of the 
company. In 1893 he had engaged in the 
drug business in Bluffton, but in _i896 he 
disposed of this enterprise to devote his en- 
tire attention to his oil interests, which had 
greatly increased in scope and importance. 
Since the year last mentioned he has operat- 
ed extensively in the oil fields of the state, 
both individually and as an interested 
principal in various corporations, and his 
energy, discrimination and administrative 
ability have been the potent factors in in- 
suring him a high degree of success in this 
important field of productive enterprise. He 
was actively concerned in the organization 
of the Midway Oil Company, his interests 
in which he subsequently sold at a good 
profit, and he is now actively identified 
with a number of fine properties and the 
exploiting of new prospects of distinctive 
promise. 

On the 27th of September, 1877, Mr. 
Miller was united in marriage to Miss Liz- 
zie L. Burgan, daughter of George F. Bur- 
gan, now deceased, one of the first settlers of 



Bluffton and one of its most honored pio- 
neers. Mr. and Mrs. ^filler have three 
children, namely : Guy B., who was born 
July 18, 1878, is a traveling salesman for a 
wholesale drug house in Kansas City, 
Missouri; Dwight C, born April 29, 1887, 
and Edith, born January 28, 1891, remain 
at the parental home, which is recognized as 
a center of gracious hospitality. Fraternally 
Mr. Miller is identified with the time-honor- 
ed order of Freemasons, in which he takes a 
lively interest, being fully appreciative of 
the noble teachings and beneficent values of 
the fraternity. 



J. H. HEXLINE. 

This gentleman, although reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits, is now one of the most 
active and prosperous business men in the 
town of Ossian, Jefferson township. Wells 
county, Indiana. He is a native of the 
county and was born in Lancaster township, 
November 11, 1859, a son of Tobias and 
Rebecca (Kreigh) Henline, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and of German descent. Both the 
Henline and the Kreigh families, on leaving 
the Keystone state, first located in Ohio, 
from which state the Henlines came to 
Wells county, Indiana, in 1845, and the 
Kreighs shortly afterward, probably abolit 

1847- 

Tobias Henline and Rebecca Kreigh 
were married in 1857 and made their home 
on the old farm in Lancaster township, 
where Tobias passed his life. He is de- 
ceased, but his wife has been spared and now 
lives in Tocsin, Wells county. Of their 
family of seven boys and three girls, five 




J. H. HENLINE. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



401 



sons and three daughters stiU survive, and 
all have been reared in the faith of the 
Presbyterian church, of which the mother 
is still a devoted member and not only be- 
lieves in and faithfully follows its teachings, 
but contributes liberally of her income to its 
support. 

J. H. Henline passed his boyhood days 
on the homestead and assisted on the farm 
as farmers' lads do, but during the inclement 
weather attended school at Eagleville, where 
he acquired a good English education. He 
was but a lad when his father died, but he 
possessed a great deal of energ\^ and pluck 
and vigorously attended to his farm duties 
until he attained his majority when he pur- 
chased a threshing machine and entered up- 
on the activities of life on his own account, 
and, as the sequel will show, made a gratify- 
ing success. For four years this thresher 
afforded him profitable and certain employ- 
ment each harvest, but being naturally a man 
of enterprise and business ability, he sought 
a more permanent line of business and estab- 
lished a tile factory in Jefferson township, 
which he conducted with unvarying success 
for five years, when he sold out to John 
Beck, Jr. He afterward opened a new fac- 
tory, covering eleven thousand five hundred 
and fifty-five square feet of ground, equipp- 
ed with a forty-horse-power engine and 
boiler, and was engaged in manufacturing 
tile, sawing lumber and making shingles, 
and also having a fully equipped planing 
mill and cider mill. September i, 1894, the 
entire plant was completely destroyed by 
fire, entailing a loss of over six thousand 
dollars, leaving Mr. Henline three thousand 
dollars worse off than nothing. He had 
many friends, however, and they did not de- 
sert him, so that through their assijtance he 



was able to start up again, though on a 
smaller scale. But misfortune still clung to 
him, as in the following January he was se- 
verely injured in his saw-mill, suffering a 
broken leg and other injuries. 

March 14, 1881, J. H. Henhne was hap- 
pily united in marriage with Miss Rosa D. 
Wagner, a native of Jefferson township and 
of German descent. This union has been 
favored with three children, namely : Martin 
S., born December 9, 1882, is a practical en- 
gineer in Wells county, is still unmarried 
and makes his home under the parental 
roof; Lester R., who was born July 14, 
1887, has been well educated for a lad of 
his age, and Floyd, who was born January 
16, 1889. 

Beside the tile factory above alluded to, 
Mr. Henline also conducted a portable saw- 
mill and a fully equipped saw and grist-mill, 
for about six years. In May, 1901, he locat- 
ed in Ossian, where he now owns a number 
of town lots and is doing a general mercan- 
tile business. Although Mr. Henline has 
met with several reverses, he is naturally a 
money maker and is very persistent in what- 
ever he undertakes, being now in comfort- 
able circumstances. 

Mr. and Mrs. Henline are members of 
the Evangelical church, in which he has 
been a class leader for over three years, and 
was a Sunday school teacher for several 
years, and of the same church Mrs. Henline 
is a steward and the Sunday school superin- 
tendent. In politics Mr. Henline is a Demo- 
crat, as were his ancestors as far back as his 
recollection extends, but, as far as he is per- 
sonally concerned, he cares but little for po- 
litical work. He has a pleasant home in 
Ossian, where he carries on a general trade 
in agricultural implements, and also owns 



402 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



five acres of quite valuable land in Jefferson 
township. The Henline family is one of the 
most respected in the town of Ossian and 
the township of JefTerson, and Mr. Henline 
is well known in the business circles of the 
county as a man of the strictest integrity. 



ABNER S. ELZEY. 

Few young men in Wells county and the 
town of Ossian, Indiana, have become so 
prominently identified with the business 
interests of the community in which he lives 
as has Abner S. Elzey. who was born in 
Adams county, Indiana, October 3, 1868, a 
son of Elisha and Rebekah (Pausle) Elzey. 
The Elzey family came from Maryland to 
Ohio and are of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
after some years' residence in the Buckeye 
state, the father moved to Adams county, 
Indiana, located on a farm north of De- 
catur, where he passed his life in moderate 
circumstances, and was highly respected by 
his neighbors as a quiet, unassuming gen- 
tleman. To him and wife were born seven 
children, of whom A. S. Elzey is the only 
survivor. 

Abner S. Elzey was. as far as his tender 
years permitted, instructed in the noble pur- 
suit of agriculture on the old homestead and 
also attended the district school until he was 
eight years of age, when he was taken by 
his father to Decatur, where he attended the 
common schools, and, being quick at acquir- 
ing knowledge, improved himself as far as 
his advantages would permit. But his thirst 
for knowledge was insatiable and he de- 
voted his time and means to a large extent 
to the accumulation of books, soon 



ing himself of a large and valuable library, 
made up of standard works on many branch- 
es of human knowledge. But a desire to 
make money early became paramount with 
Mr. Elzey, not for the sake of gold itself, 
but for the advantage it would afford him 
in doing good to others and in amplifying 
his power to carry out this laudable object. 
Therefore, while still young, and his mother 
ha\'ing passed away, Mr. Elzey left the pa- 
ternal roof and formed a partnership with 
another young man in Decatur, and soon 
proved to the world that, although but fif- 
teen years of age, he had a knowledge of 
business far superior to that possessed by 
most lads of his own age. A favorable op- 
portunity presenting itself, i\Ir. Elzey 
withdrew from the partnership he had 
formed and entered the employ of Shaffer 
& Brother. In 1892 Mr. Elzey was sent by 
his employers to Ossian with a stock of 
hardware well adapted to the wants of a 
rural community and an agricultural popula- 
tion, and within a year built up a very pros- 
perous trade. With his usual foresight, Mr. 
Elzey perceived his opportunity and formed 
a partnership with John Rex, and together 
they purchased the stock. Some time later 
Mr. Elzey bought out Mr. Rex, and con- 
tinued the business solely on his own ac- 
count, adding materially to his stock in 
trade, but later engaged in the furniture and 
undertaking business, which he found to be 
better adapted to his inclinations and more 
remunerative. 

Mr. Elzey is a public spirited gentleman 
as well as an enterprising citizen. He has 
made three additions to the town of Ossian 
and has built two business blocks, as well 
as remodeled others, and, taken altogether, 
his pu^h and enterprise have been most 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



403 



commendable. Too mucii credit can hardly 
be awarded him for the great progress Os- 
sian has made under his auspices. In 1901 
Mr. Elzey erected his present two-story and 
basement brick warehouse and salesroom in 
which he carries the best assorted stock of 
furniture, buggies and undertakers' ma- 
terials to be found in Wells county. His 
funeral cars are of the latest design and are 
fully up to date, and besides the two he owns 
in Ossian he holds an interest in six others 
at different towns in the country. By his 
courtesy and unvarying affability, which al- 
ways mark the true business man, Mr. 
Elzey has secured a permanent trade that in 
itself assures him a competency. 

Abner S. Elzey was united in marriage 
with Miss Siddie E. Linn. This lady was 
born in Indianapolis in 1866, and is the 
daughter of Solomon Linn, a prominent and 
wealthy contractor and builder, now resid- 
ing in Decatur, Indiana. The marriage of 
Mr. and Mrs. Elzey took place in Decatur, 
August 27, 1889, and this union has been 
blessed with two children, viz : How Ruth, 
born December 27, 1894, and Dale Edmond, 
born July 27, 1896, and it may be added that 
Mr. Elzey attributes much of his success in 
business and all of his domestic happiness to 
the influence of his amiable and accom- 
plished wife. Mr. Elzey and his family are 
members of the Evangelical church, in 
which they are true and earnest workers 
and to the support of which they are liberal 
contributors. Fraternally Mr. Elzey is a 
Knight of Pythias, of which he is the pres- 
ent efficient prelate. In politics he is a Re- 
publican, but is too wise a man to sacrifice 
his business interests in the vain pursuit of 
office. He has passed much of his life in 
acts that were sure to accrue to the benefit of 



his neighbors and of the community in 
which he has passed so many years of his 
useful life. 



MAHLON I. PAXSOX. 

In the general conduct of life, as well as 
in specific vocations, intelligence, energy and 
honorable motives are essential to the high- 
est success. With the two former qualities, 
a man may succeed in a certain sense, but 
that life is not a full or complete one into 
which the moral element does not enter as a 
controlling factor. The career of Mahlon 
I. Paxson, of Lancaster township, one of 
the largest land owners and most successful 
farmers of Wells county, is a forcible il- 
lustration of this fact, and it is a pleasant 
duty on the part of the publishers to present 
a brief review of his life and achievements. 
It is not known who was the founder of the 
Paxson family in America, but it is a well 
authenticated fact that the name was fa- 
miliar in various parts of Virginia at a very 
early period in the history of that common- 
wealth. Joseph Paxson, the subject's grand- 
father, was born in that state, but in early 
life was taken by his parents to Ohio where 
he married, subsequently moving to Indiana 
and entering land in Penn township. Jay 
county. He was one of the earliest settlers 
in the township of Penn, settling there in 
the year 1836. He cleared and developed 
a good farm there and died on the same a 
number of years ago at about the age of 
seventy-two. Among the children of Joseph 
and Martha Paxson was a son by the name 
of Joshua, whose birth occurred in Colum- 
biana county, Ohio, about the year 1820. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



When a youth in his teens he accompanied 
his parents to Jay county where he subse- 
quently married Mary Irey, daughter of 
Phineas Irey, one of the pioneers of Jay 
county and later a resident of the county of 
Wabash. After his marriage Joshua Pax- 
son settled on a farm in Penn township and 
in due time became a successful agriculturist 
and substantial citizen. He was an honest, 
hard working man and belonged to that 
large and eminently respectable class of 
yeomanry who in a quiet way add to the sta- 
bility and moral tone of the community. 
He lived a useful but uneventful life and 
finished his earthly course in November, 
1878, his wife surviving until the year 1891. 
Eight children were born to Joshua and 
Mary Paxson, the subject of this sketch be- 
ing the second in order of birth ; the names 
of the others are Martha, wife of Morris 
Thompson; Philip, a resident of Pennville, 
Jay county; Eli lives at Winona, this state; 
David, the next in order of birth, was last 
heard of in Missouri and it is not known 
Avhether he is now living or dead; the old- 
est and youngest members of the family died 
in infancy unnamed. 

Mahlon I. Paxson was born in Penn 
township. Jay county, Indiana, November 
II, 1842. To him was accorded the privilege 
of growing to manhood on a farm, from 
whence has sprung not only the moral bone 
and sinew of the body politic, but also the 
majority of leaders in our industrial life and 
many men of eminence in the affairs of state. 
Inheriting a robust constitution and superb 
health, young Mahlon grew up a finely de- 
veloped lad and, being the oldest son, upon 
his shoulders early fell a large share of the 
family support. By reason of his services 
being required on the farm he had little op- 



portunity of acquiring an education, the sum 
total of his schooling consisting of only four 
or five terms and that before he had reached 
the age of seventeen. This deficiency he 
has largely made up in after years by read- 
ing and observation, while his contact with 
the world in various business capacities has 
given him a wide practical knowledge of 
much greater value than the learning ordi- 
narily derived from books. 

Mr. Paxson was a young man of nine- 
teen when the great Civil war broke out and, 
like thousands of other patriotic sons of the 
north, he tendered his services to the gov- 
ernment in the hour of its greatest need. 
On the 30th day of July, 1862, he was 
mustered into the service as a member of 
Company F, Seventy-fifth Regiment Indi- 
ana Infantry, and from that time until his 
discharge, in June, 1865, he did his duty as 
a brave and loyal soldier on a number of 
bloody battle fields. He first met the enemy 
at Hoover's Gap, Kentucky, and later was 
with General Thomas in the various cam- 
paigns which that intrepid commander con- 
ducted, participating in many engagements, 
notably among which was the terrible battle 
of Chickamauga, where so many brave men 
laid down their lives in defence of the 
Union. During Mr. Paxson's military ex- 
perience he was never in the hospital a day 
as a patient and, being ever ready for duty, 
he earned the good will of his officers and 
comrades. After his discharge he returned 
home and on February 27 of the following 
year was united in marriage with Miss Ma- 
tilda E. Keese, of Penn township, daughter 
of Stephen and Sarah Keese, who moved 
to Jay county, from Vermont, as early as 
1838. Meantime Mr. Paxson had come into 
possession of a small farm of sixty acres 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL-YNA. 



405 



which he purchased with money saved while 
in the army, and to this place he moved his 
bride and set up his first domestic establish- 
ment. Within a short time he exchanged 
this farm for eighty acres of woodland on 
which he built a modest log dwelling, six- 
teen by eighteen feet in dimensions, and 
shortly after installing his wife therein he 
put up a blacksmith shop which proved a 
great benefit to the farmers of the vicinity. 
When not engaged in clearing his land he 
worked in the shop and soon had more than 
he could do, his earnings from this source 
constituting by far the larger part of his in- 
come. After clearing and reducing to culti- 
vation about fifty acres of his land, Mr. 
Paxson again made a good trade, exchang- 
ing the place for one hundred acres in Not- 
tingham township. Wells county, to which 
he moved about the year 1883. On Febru- 
ary 2, 1876, prior to moving to Wells 
count}-, he suffered a grievous bereavement 
in the loss of his wife, who died after bear- 
ing him four children, namely; Florence, 
now Mrs. David Kelly; Nathan, deceased; 
Nealy P.^ wife of George Lanning, of 
Kansas, and Adrian, who died in infancy. 
Later, on the 13th of October, 1878, Mr. 
Paxson chose a second wife in the person of 
Mrs. Rebecca Paxson, widow of the late 
Miles Paxson, of Jay county, and daughter 
of Isaac and Rebecca Walker, who were 
among the early settlers of that part of the 
state. 

^Ir. Paxson's original farm in Notting- 
ham township lies about one mile and a 
half southw-est of the village of Petroleum 
and for many years was locally known as 
the Robert Smith place. He made many im- 
provements on this farm, including among 
others one of the largest barns in the town- 



ship and a beautiful two-story modern 
dwelling costing twenty-five hundred dol- 
lars. He brought the land to a high state of 
cultivation and by his energy, foresight and 
successful management added continually to 
his possessions until within a comparatively 
few years he was numbered among the 
wealthiest men in his part of the county. 
Li 1896 he purchased a fine residence in 
Bluffton, to which place he removed the 
same year, but after a short time there he 
returned to the country, subsequently trad- 
ing his city property for a farm in the town- 
ship of Lancaster. In 1898 he moved to the 
latter place and has since made it his home, 
although still retaining possession of his 
farm in Nottingham township. 

Mr. Paxson has been exceedingly for- 
tunate in his farming interests and business 
affairs, as witness the fact of his owning 
at this time seven hundred and fifty-two 
acres of valuable land, three hundred and 
twenty-four acres of which are in Lancaster 
township, one hundred in Nottingham, one 
hundred and sixty-eight in Jay county and 
one hundred and sixty in Stafford county, 
Kansas, and also six valuable lots in Penn- 
ville. Jay county. He is now looking after 
his large landed and agricultural interests, 
but does little manual labor himself, devot- 
ing considerable of his time to the raising of 
fine live stock in which his success has been 
most encouraging. He is a large breeder of 
Galloway cattle, of which he now has one 
hundred and twenty-three head, several of 
them thoroughbreds, while his herd of 
Jerseys cannot be excelled by any like num- 
ber of animals in this part of the state. He 
also buys and ships stock quite extensively 
and in this, as in his other business affairs, 
realizes handsome profits from his efforts. 



4o6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Mr. Paxson is a man of expedients, re- 
sorting to many different enterprises to in- 
crease his fortune. He owns a fine thresh- 
ing outfit, which yields him a Hberal profit 
on the investment, and also operates a shred- 
der at certain seasons of the year. He still 
keeps his blacksmith shop open, doing all 
of his work and as much for his neighbors 
as the capacity of his establishment will ad- 
mit. Mr. Paxson never addresses himself 
to an undertaking without careful consider- 
ing the consequences, but once engaged 
never stops short of successful completion. 
Thrown upon his own resources at an age 
when most boys are still under their father's 
care, he has made his way in the world un- 
aided and is indebted to nobody but himself 
for the large fortune which he now com- 
mands. He is probably as good a specimen 
as can be found of the extraordinary up- 
lifting and rebuilding process which Ameri- 
can institutions seem so well calculated to 
foster in the case of clever young men who 
in the midst of humble circumstances are not 
afraid to dare and do. There have been 
many hard knocks and rough experiences in 
his career^ but from the beginning he has 
been controlled by those high, manly princi- 
ples which, while according to every one 
his just dues, holds on to the right regard- 
less of conseciuences and in the end seldom 
if ever fails to reach the goal of success. 

Mr. Paxson is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic post at Bluffton and 
is also identified with the Improved Order 
of Red Men, joining the latter organiza- 
tion at Keystone. In matters political he 
is absolutely independent, giving his alle- 
giance to the party whose principles in his 
judgment work for the best interest of the 
people. He supported the Greenback party 



while it was in existence and later became a 
Populist, but in local affairs he is free, vot- 
ing for the man regardless of his political 
affiliation. 

By his second marriage Mr. Paxson is 
the father of four children, namely : Telfer, 
who married Miss Elva Eihorn and lives on 
the farm in Nottingham township; Sherman 
married Clara Gregg, and lives on a part of 
his father's farm in Lancaster township; 
Orval, also a member of the home circle, 
and Ernest, who was accidentally shot and 
killed at the age of eleven j^ears. Mrs. Pax- 
son has been a member of the L^nited 
Brethren church ever since her childhood 
and is one of the active members in the con- 
gregation to which she now belongs. Mr. 
Paxson is not identified with any religious 
organization, but appreciating the value of 
the church to a community, gives liberally 
of his means to its support. His hand is 
ever open to a friend in need and his gener- 
ous hospitality is free to all who claim it. 
He is indeed one of the county's most ener- 
getic and enterprising men and his right to 
be classed with its representative citizens is 
cheerfully conceded by the public. 



THOMAS M. WASSON. 

A man whose days have been devoted to 
honorable endeavor and who has attained a 
high degree of success in life, it is peculiarly 
appropriate that attention be directed to one 
who has long been identified with the ma- 
terial and educational interests of Wells 
county. Thomas ^I. Wasson is a worthy 
representative of one of the oldest families 
in this part of the state and the township 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



407 



in which he Hves can boast of few older 
citizens in point of continuous residence. 
On the loth day of January, 1845, his birth 
occurred in the township of Lancaster and 
from that date to the present time, a period 
of nearly fifty-eight years, his career has 
been very closely interwoven with the his- 
tory of this particular section of the county. 
His parents were George and Sarah (Ash) 
W'asson, who came to Wells county as early 
as the year 1841 and settled in Lancaster 
township, where they spent the remainder 
of their days. Thomas M. grew up in a 
comparatively new and undeveloped country 
and easily recalls the early days when the 
land was covered with a virgin forest into 
which but few pioneers had penetrated. An 
eye witness of the remarkable transforma- 
tion which has taken place between that 
period and the present, he is perhaps as well 
or better acquainted with the growth of the 
country and its advancement along all lines 
of development than any other man how liv- 
ing. Not only has he witnessed the many 
radical changes which have taken place with- 
in the last half century, but in many ways 
he has contributed to bring them about, hav- 
ing been an influential factor in the country's 
progress since old enough to exercise the 
functions and duties of citizenship. Reared 
on a farm at a time when hard work was 
the common lot of all, it is not strange that 
he early developed a capacity for labor of 
which boys of the present day have little 
or no conception and that he also learned 
while still a mere lad to rely upon himself in 
the great battle of life, proving the sound 
physical and mental make-up of a boy who 
knew how to take advantage of every op- 
portunity for his improvement. When old 
enough, he entered such schools as his neigh 
borhood afforded and such wa.s his progress 



that in a few years he stood at the head of 
all his classes and as a general thing greatly 
distanced the boys of his own age in study. 
In the summer time he helped run the farm 
and otherwise looked after the interests of 
his widowed mother, proving a full hand at 
all kinds of manual labor long before reach- 
ing his majority. 

The fall of 1868 marked the beginning 
of Mr. Wasson's long and useful career as 
a teacher in the public schools of Wells 
county. He had taught a term that year 
and the following summer attended a nor- 
mal school with the object in view of prepar- 
ing himself for greater efficiency in this no- 
ble field of endeavor. He continued educa- 
tional work without interruption until the 
year 1876, meanwhile establishing much 
more than local repute as a capable instruc- 
tor and efficient disciplinarian. Many of 
the boys and girls who received from him 
their first insight into the mysteries of learn- 
ing are now among the substantial men and 
women of this and other states, but they 
still retain fond remembrances of their 
teacher and think of him as one of their 
warmest friends and greatest benefactors. 
In 1876 Mr. Wasson abandoned teaching 
for a time and turned his attention to the im- 
provement of his farm. On the ist day of 
August, 1877, he took to himself a wife and 
helpmate in the person of Miss Angie \'ail, 
a native of Allen count}", Indiana, and 
daughter of Thomas and Martha Vail, who 
moved to this state in an early day from 
Ohio. Originally the Vails settled in Allen 
county, but later changed their abode to 
the county of Wells, locating near the vil- 
lage of Ossian, where the father's death sub- 
sequently occurred, the mother being stil' in 
the land of the living. 

Immediately following his marriage. Mr. 



4o8 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Wasson moved to his present farm in Lan- 
caster township and began a systematic 
course of improvement, vi^hich in due time 
resulted in one of the most valuable and at- 
tractive homes in this section of the country. 
He cleared much of his land and by a suc- 
cessful system of drainage added greatly to 
its productive capacity as well as to its value 
in a financial point of view. He labored con- 
tinuously with success and profit for seven 
years, when an event occurred which not 
only interfered very materially with his 
plans, but for a time broke up his home 
and caused him the deepest sorrow a devoted 
husband can know. This was the death of 
his faithful and loving wife, which occurred 
on the 8th day of February, 1885, after she 
had presented him two sons, Clifton, born in 
April, 1882, now a resident of the city of 
South Bend, and Clem V., whose birth took 
place on the i6th of December, 1884, and 
who still lives on the home place. 

Breaking up housekeeping after the 
death of his companion. Mr. Wasson rented 
his land and again entered the educational 
field, in which he continued until his second 
marriage in 1891. On November 5, of that 
year, was solemnized the ceremony which 
bound him in the bonds of wedlock with 
Louisa Gephart, who was born in Allen 
county in the year 1855, her parents, George 
and Louisa Gephart. having long been resi- 
dents of this state. This marriage wit- 
nessed the termination of Mr. Wasson's ca- 
reer as a teacher and since 1891 he has de- 
voted his attention exclusively to the pur- 
suit of agriculture. He owns a fine farm 
of one hundred acres, of which seventy-five 
are in cultivation, and everything on the 
place, notably the well cultivated field, tile 
drainage, etc.. bespeak the presence of a 



man of progressive ideas who has indeed 
elevated husbandry to the dignity of a sci- 
ence. Mr. Wasson has made a careful study 
of soils and understands thoroughly their 
adaptability to the different crops raised in 
this latitude. He seldom fails to reap boun- 
tiful harvests and from the sale of the fine 
cattle and hogs which he raises he receives a 
liberal share of his yearly income. 

Mr. ^Vasson is a gentleman of much more 
than ordinary mental capacity and by keep- 
ing himself in close touch with the times on 
all the great questions before the public, has 
become to a large degree a leader of thought 
in his community. He is progressive in all 
the term implies, assists to the extent of his 
ability every measure for the material and 
moral advancement of his kind, and for a 
number of years past his activity in religious 
work has done much to build up the cause 
of Christianity in the locality where he re- 
sides. He is one of the pillars of the Chris- 
ian Union church in Lancaster township, 
holding at this time the office of trustee, be- 
sides being one of the most efficient teach- 
ers in the Sunday school connected with the 
congregation. Mrs. Wasson is also a mem- 
ber of the same body of worshipers and, 
like her husband, is deeply interested in re- 
ligious work both in her own community 
and elsewhere. Politically Mr. Wasson is 
a staunch Democrat, but he is not narrow in 
his views, according to everybody the same 
right of opinion which he claims for him- 
self. He served four years as precinct com- 
mitteeman and upon a number of occasions 
has represented his township in county and 
other conventions. He has never been an 
aspirant for public office, the only office he 
ever held being that of assessor, the duties 
of which he discharged in an able and busi- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



409 



ness-like manner for a period of five years, 
besides serving two years as deputy assessor. 
Mr. Wasson's second marriage has been 
blessed with one child, a son, John L., who 
was born on the 21st day of August, 1893. 



JA^IES \\'ASSOX. 

For over sixty years the name of \\'asson 
has been familiar throughout the county of 
Wells, belonging as it does to one of the old- 
est and most highly esteemed families in 
this part of the state. The history of the 
family here has been closely entertwined 
with the history of the county, especially 
that part embraced within the present limits 
of Lancaster township, where the s\ibject's 
father settled as early as 1841. The Was- 
son family is of Irish origin. Alexander 
Wasson, the grandfather of James, was born 
and reared in the Emerald Isle and there 
married and reared a family. Among his 
children was a son by the name of George, 
who grew to maturity in his native countn- 
and married Sarah Ash. About the year 
1829 George Wasson emigrated to the 
United States and settled in Wayne county, 
Ohio, where he took a lease to clear a cer- 
tain amount of land, after which he worked 
by the day at different vocations, principally 
farming. In the fall of 1841 he moved to 
Wells county, Indiana, and entered a quarter 
section of land in what is now the township 
of Lancaster, being one of the first settlers 
in this part of the country. Subsequently 
he purchased an eighty-acre tract now 
owned by the widow of John Wasson and, 
erecting a little log cabin, eighteen by twen- 
ty feet in size, containing a single room, be- 
gan in good earnest the work of carving out 



a home, an undertaking of great magnitude 
considering the almost impenetrable forests 
which up to that time but few white men 
had penetrated. For a year or two Mr. 
Wasson's humble home and the few acres of 
cleared land surrounding it looked like a 
mere niche in the dense wilderness and the 
difficulties and privations which the family 
endured were numerous and trying. By 
long continued toil, the forest gradually fell 
before the woodman's sturdy blows, the 
swamp lands were reclaimed by artificial 
drainage and in the course of time a fine 
farm and a comfortable home rewarded the 
efforts so heroically and patiently put forth. 
Mr. \\'asson became a successful agricultur- 
ist and added to his possessions until at one 
time he owned in the township of Lancaster 
two hundred and forty acres of excellent 
land, every foot of which was earned 
by the labor of his own hands. He was a 
splendid manager, seldom failed to carry 
to successful completion anything which 
he attempted, and in due time accumulated 
a sufficiency of this world's goods to en- 
title him to a place in the front ranks 
of the county's well-to-do farmers and 
successful men of affairs. He was a man 
of strong personality and made his presence 
felt in this community, being respected for 
his honesty and integrity as well as for the 
enterprising manner with which he managed 
his business interests. He was an active 
member of the LTnited Presbyterian church 
and carried his religion into his secular con- 
cerns, proving by a life singularly free from 
fault the high practical value of applied 
Christianity. He lived a strenuous but use- 
ful life, and died in 1855, in the hope of a 
blessed immortality, leaving a widow and 
fi\-e children, the former following him to 



4IO 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



the grave in 1895 at the advanced age of 
ninety years. The following are the names 
of the sons and daughters born to George 
and Sarah Wasson : John, Eliza J., widow 
of L'riah Nash, Isabella, James and Thomas 
]\I.. all but the oldest living. 

James Wasson, the fourth of the above 
children, was born April 2, 1841, in Wayne 
county, OhiOj and was about six months old 
when his parents moved to their new home 
in the wilds of northeastern Indiana. He 
literally grew up in the woods and his earli- 
est recollections are of the modest cabin 
home, the primeval forest liy which it was 
surrotmded and the wild, free life, unhamp- 
ered by artificial restraint and unretarded by 
conventional usage. When a small boy he 
became experienced in all manner of wood- 
craft, and by wielding the ax and other im- 
plements used in the early day, developed a 
strong physique which enabled him to per- 
form with alacrity and ease his share of the 
farm work. His educational training was 
such as the indifferent subscription schools 
of the day could impart and at best he was 
permitted to attend these backwoods col- 
leges only a few months in the winter time 
until his eighteenth year. 

Mr. Wasson was in the full strength of 
vigorous young manhood when the war 
cloud darkened the national horizon and 
feeling it a duty encumbent upon him to 
aid the government in its extremity, he 
joined, in 1862, Company G, One Hundred 
and First Indiana Infantry, which a short 
time thereafter was attached to the army 
under General Rosecrans. Subsequently he 
served under Generals Nelson and Thomas 
and took part in a number of campaigns 
which those three commanders conducted, 
receiving his first baptism of fire on the 20th 



day of March, 1863, at Milton, Tennessee, 
in an engagement with a Confederate force 
under General Morgan. In this battle he 
was struck in the leg by a musket ball, which 
necessitated his lying in the hospital for 
nearly two months. When sufficiently recov- 
ered he rejoined his command, after which 
he saw much active service in the Tennessee 
campaign, participating in numerous en- 
gagements, the most noted being the battle 
of Chickamauga, where he was again 
wounded, this time receiving a ball in the 
shoulder from the effects of which he was a 
long time reco\'ering. \\'ith many of his 
comrades, he fell into the enemy's hands at 
Chickamauga and from there w-as taken to 
Richmond, Virginia, where he remained a 
prisoner until his exchange, forty days later. 
After his release Mr. Wasson received hos- 
pital treatment at Annapolis, Maryland, un- 
til his w'ound was partially healed, after 
which he was sent to Indianapolis, thence 
came home on furlough until the middle of 
February, 1864. Returning to Indianapo- 
lis, he remained in the barracks there about 
one month and then went to Camp Chase, 
near Columbus, Ohio, where he remained 
until the following June, when he was hon- 
orably discharged from the service with a 
record of which any soldier might well feel 
proud. 

On quitting the army Mr. Wasson re- 
turned home, but the condition of his in- 
juries was such as to preclude the possibility 
of manual labor ; accordingly he entered that 
fall a school at Bluffton, taught by Prof. J. 
S. McClerv, which he attended one term 
with the object in view of fitting himself for 
teaching. The following winter he had 
charge of the Daily school in Lancaster 
township and the ne.xt fall again found him 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



411 



prosecuting his studies at BlufTton under the 
direction of competent instructors. So suc- 
cessful had been his first attempt at teaching 
that he was chosen his own successor the 
ftjilowing year and during the ensuing 
eight years he devoted his time largely to 
educational work, meeting with the most 
encouraging success. Meanwhile he made 
his home with his brother on the old home- 
stead, assisting to the extent of his ability 
with the work of the farm_. besides doing 
considerable clearing and making various 
improvements on his own land. 

On the 1 6th day of Xovember. 1870, 
'Mr. W'asson and Miss Sarah E. Sweeny 
were united in the bonds of matrimony. 
Mrs. Wasson was born in Wayne county, 
Ohio, on the 12th day of February, 1845, 
the daughter of Robert and Sarah Sweeny, 
both parents natives of Lycoming county, 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Sweeny moved from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio a number of years 
ago, and spent the remainder of his days 
in the county of Wayne, following agricul- 
ture and carpentry for a livelihood. He died 
July 30, 1858, his wife's death occurring in 
the year i860. They had a family of thir- 
teen children, namely : William, deceased ; 
Mary, deceased ; Margaret, widow of David 
Clark; Robert C: Alexander R., deceased; 
Edith, deceased ; John \\'. ; Alfred, deceased ; 
Matilda, wife of J. P. Harris ; ^Liriah, wife 
of Ezra D. Mclntyre; Joseph, a soldier in 
the late Civil war, killed in the battle of 
Shiloh : Sarah E., wife of Mr. Wasson, 
and Rachael. deceased. Mrs. Wasson was 
educated in the schools of her native 
county and at the age of nineteen began 
teaching, which work she continued about 
six years in the counties of Wayne and 
Knox. Having a sister living in Wells 



county. Indiana, she came here in 1868 on 
a visit and during the ensuing three years 
taught in the schools of Lancaster township, 
meantime meeting the gentleman who af- 
terwards became her husband. A fact wor- 
thy of note in this connection is that the dis- 
trict in which Mrs. Wasson taught, their 
oldest son taught three terms in the same 
district, and Mr. Wasson three terms in the 
same school house; still later the youngest 
son took charge of a school in the district, 
but resigned by reason of ill health before 
the expiration of the term. Mrs. Wasson 
is a lady of culture and wide reading and as 
a teacher earned a reputation which placed 
her in the front rank of the county's suc- 
cessful educators. In the matters of do- 
mestic economy she is equally skilled and in 
all that constitutes a high type of American 
womanhood she stands on a plane which the 
the majority do not reach. 

In the year 187 1, Mr. Wasson moved to 
his present place in Lancaster township, 
and by industry and systematic management 
has made it one of the most productive as 
well as one of the most beautiful and attrac- 
tive farms cf its size in the county. By the 
labor of his own hands he cleared and. re- 
duced to a fine state of tillage fifty acres, be- 
sides enhancing the fertility of the entire 
farm by a thorough system of tile drainage. 
His first dwelling, a frame structure, erected 
in 1874, was destroyed by fire in 1895 and 
in the fall of the latter year he built his pres- 
ent residence, also a frame building of beau- 
tiful design and well supplied with the com- 
forts and conveniences of life. In 1889 he 
built a large barn, thirty by forty-eight feet 
in area and correspondingly high, a substan- 
tial and commodious structure which will 
answer the purposes for which intended as 



412 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



long as the present owner sees fit to utilize 
it. Air. Wasson is a progressive farmer 
and stock raiser, as the present fine con- 
ditions of his place and the handsome for- 
tune now in his possession abundantly at- 
test. In the domain of citizenship he is easi- 
ly the peer of any of his fellows, taking an 
active part in the material advancement of 
his township and county and maintaining a 
lively interest in all enterprises looking to 
the moral good of the community. In poli- 
tics he is pronounced in his allegiance to the 
Democratic party and few men are as well 
informed as he upon current events and the 
great public questions of the day. In 1874 
he was elected trustee of Lancaster town- 
ship, and as such served three and a half 
years to the satisfaction of all concerned, 
having previously . served four years as 
assessor. Fraternally he is a member of the 
G. A. R. post at Bluffton and religiously 
subscribes to the creed of the United 
Brethren denomination. He and his entire 
family belong to this church, the wife and 
one son being teachers in the Sunday 
school, Mr. Wasson holding a place on the 
official board of the local congregation with 
which he is identified. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wasson 
consists of three children, the oldest of 
whom is Maggie A., now the wife of Frank 
Garton; she was born December 18, 1871, 
and has three offspring, Holdie, Harry and 
James Donald; George R., was born July 
6, 1875, and is still a member of the home 
circle, being a teacher of recognized ability 
and one of the popular young men of the 
township in which he lives; Irvin W., born 
November 23, 1878, has also taught school, 
but at the present time devotes his attention 
to agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm 



of eighty acres in the township of Lancas- 
ter. He is a married man, his wife, whose 
maiden name was Etta Sowards, being a 
native of this county. 

As stated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. 
Wasson is a representative of one of the 
oldest families of Wells county and few men 
can claim a longer residence in Lancaster 
township than himself. Sixty-two years 
have dissolved in the mists of the past 
since he was brought to Indiana, years 
fraught with momentous consequences, in 
tliat they ha\e witnessed the most signal in- 
dustrial developments and the most won- 
derful advances in civilization the world has 
ever known. In his own community he has 
been no passive spectator of these changes, 
but in numerous ways has been an influen- 
tial factor in bringing them about. What 
his hands have found to do, he has done 
with his might, while his strong brain and 
resourceful nature have contributed not a 
little to the moral and intellectual improve- 
ment of those with whom he has had re- 
lations. He is a splendid type of the sym- 
metrically developed western man, and a no- 
table example of intelligent and enterprising 
American citizenship. 



CALVIN KUNKEL. 

\\'ells county has every reason to feel 
proud of the large and eminently respecta- 
ble class of people who constitute her agri- 
cultural element. In each of the several 
townships are broad minded, energetic men 
whose names have added honor to the com- 
munities in which they live and perform 
their allotted work besides giving additional 
luster to the reputation which Weils enjoys 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



413 



among her sister counties of the state. 
Holding worthy prestige in this class and 
deserving of specific mention in these pages 
is the well known gentlemen to a brief epit- 
ome of whose life these lines are devoted. 
Calvin Kunkel is an Indianian by adoption, 
having been born in Crawford county, Ohio, 
on the 1st day of February, 1846. His 
father, Michael Kunkel, was a native of 
Pennsylvania and his mother, whose family 
name was Mason, first saw the light of day 
in Ohio. Michael Kunkel became a resident 
of the latter state when a young man and 
was married in the county of Crawford. 
Four -children resulted from this union, 
namely : Samuel, who lives in Wells 
county: Sophia, the deceased wife of John 
Weesner; Lovisa, deceased; and Calvin 
w^hose name introduces this article. For 
his second wife, Michael Kunkel married 
yiary Ann Klineight, who bore him five 
children: John O. : Horton; ]\Iatilda, now 
Mrs. Thomas Sowders; Rebecca, wife of 
Henry Masterson, and William. 

^lichael Kunkel continued to live the 
life of a farmer in Crawford county until 
1848 when he disposed of his interests there 
and moved his family to Adams county. 
Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres 
of land which he cleared and reduced to cul- 
tivation. Later he sold his place and bought 
one hundred and twenty acres in Lancaster 
township, \Yd\s county, where the subject 
now lives, the country at the time being 
new and but little developed. Owing to a 
doubt as to where the road would eventually 
run, he built his house as he thought in the 
most suitable place, which accounts for its 
distance from the highwa}- at the present 
time. Mr. Kunkel worked hard, cleared a 
good farm and, while not becoming wealthy. 



he provided well for his family and suc- 
ceeded in accumulating a sufficiency of 
this world's goods to place him in very com- 
fortable circumstances. He lived on the 
place where he originally settled until about 
two years prior to his death, when he retired 
from active life and moved to the city of 
Blufifton, where he purchased a good resi- 
dence property. Some years after his death, 
which occurred in Blufifton, his widow mar- 
ried Ephraim High and the two still live at 
the county seat. 

Calvin Kunkel was reared on the place 
which he now owns and cultivates and, be- 
ing one of the oldest of the family, was 
obliged, when a mere youth, to assume nc 
inconsiderable share of the labor necessary 
to keep the domestic machinery in motion. 
Owing to this responsibility, he was not 
permitted to attend school as much as he de- 
sired, his educational discipline being 
limited to a few months of each winter sea- 
son from about his eighth year to the early 
teens. He assisted his father with the farm 
work until his marriage, which was solem- 
nized in the month of March, 1868, with 
Miss Sarah Plummer, and then moved to 
his father-in-law's place and began the pur- 
suit of agriculture upon his own respon- 
sibility. After a short time there he took 
up his residence in the town of Ossian and 
entered the employ of Dr. J. I. Metts, with 
whom he remained about five }-ears, during 
which time he purchased the several inter- 
ests in the old Plummer estate. Moving to 
the latter place, he cultivated it during the 
ensuing three years, but at the expiration 
of that period again took service with Dr. 
Metts and continued in his employ during 
the five years following. When his father 
moved to Blufifton, Mr. Kunkel rented the 



414 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



home farm which, witli liis own ninety-fi\e 
acres of culti\-able land, gave him all he 
could do in the way of agriculture. Subse- 
quently he sold his farm of ninety-five acres 
for twenty-five hundred dollars and pur- 
chased of his step-mother the old homestead 
which for various reasons he now desired to 
own. He now has a beautiful farm of eigh- 
ty acres, seventy of which are in cultivation. 
While his place is not as large as some in the 
neighborhood, it is doubtful if there is a farm 
of the same area in the township which 
shows greater evidence of thrift and pros- 
perity. Mr. Kunkel is well situated to enjoy 
life, in that his home is unencumbered and 
he can look the world in the face with the 
satisfaction of owing no man. His comfort- 
able surroundings and everything else in his 
possession have been earned by the joint ef- 
forts of his good wife and himself and today 
that he has made a success of life, seeing that 
he began the struggle with no property other 
than a horse and a single set of harness, is 
to state what is cheerfully conceded by those 
at all acquainted with his circumstances. 

Mr. Kunkel is recognized as possessing 
a strong sense of truth and justice and in 
every relation with his fellow men he has en- 
deavored to shape his life according to these 
principles. Industry is the key with which 
he unlocked the door to prosperity and his 
su!ccess has been commensurate with the 
energy and good judgment manifested in all 
of his undertakings. He has labored dili- 
gently to provide the necessary creature 
comforts for those dependent upon him, at 
the same time obtaining from life much sat- 
isfaction, being optimistic in his ideas and al- 
ways inclined to look on the sunny side of 
things. Mr. Kunkel is a man of consider- 
able personal force and impresses all with 



whom he comes in contact as a gentleman 
by nature and training, consequently enjoy- 
ing in full measure the confidence and es- 
teem of his fellow citizens. The family of 
which he is a representative is one of the old- 
est and most highly respected in this part 
of the country, and thus far in life he has 
done nothing calculated in the slightest de- 
gree to bring discredit upon the good name 
and reputation which his ancestors for so 
many years bore. His integrity has never 
been questioned and, wherever known, the 
word of Calvin Kunkel is as good as his 
signature to a written obligation. 

Mr. Kunkel is a member of the Masonic 
lodge at Ossian and in politics supports the 
Democratic party. He has no political as- 
piration and is by no means narrov^^ or in- 
tolerant in his views, respecting the opinions 
of others as he expects his own to be re- 
ceived in good faith. In religion he is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and holds the "office of trustee in the local 
society to which he belongs; he is also a 
worker in the Sunday school and nothing 
but sickness or unavoidable circumstances 
are permitted to prevent his attendance at 
the house of God during seasons of worship. 
Mrs. Kunkel is the daughter of John Plum- 
mer, one of the pioneer settlers of Wells 
county, and in every way is fitted to be the 
companion and helpmeet of the husband 
whose name she so worthily bears. She is 
the mother of five children, all living but the 
oldest, who died in infancy: ]nhn E. mar- 
ried a Miss Tillman and at the present time 
holds an important clerical position in a 
large business house in the city of Marion; 
his wife has borne him two children, one of 
the name of Marine, who makes her home 
with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Kun- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



415 



kel, and the other, a son, that died when 
about one year old. The mother of these 
children is also deceased. Charles W., the 
third of the family, married Miss Cora Wise 
and is a farmer and stock raiser of Jefferson 
township, this county. Frank is also a mar- 
ried man and a resident of Wells county, 
his wife being formerly Miss Bessie Bender. 
He was a soldier in the Spanish-American 
war and saw two years of active service in 
the Philippines. Xellie, the youngest of the 
familv, has never left the home fireside. 



ADOLPHUS CARRYSOT. 

As the first blow is usually conceded to 
he half the battle, so beginning right is the 
surest precursor of success in life. The 
right start almost invariably makes the best 
finish. The truth of these statements is 
well exemplified in the case of the subject 
of this sketch, Adolphus Carrysot, of Lan- 
caster township, Wells county. His eyes 
first opened on the light of day in Switzer- 
land, August 22. 1848. Henry L. and Mary 
Ann ( Girod ) Carrysot were his parents and 
they and all of their ancestors were natives 
of the beautiful little mountain republic. 
Henr}' was by trade a shoemaker and fol- 
lowed that calling in his native land. In 
1854 the family emigrated to America and 
located in Mount Eaton, Wayne county, 
Ohio, \\here the father found employment 
on a farm at the munificent salary of ten 
dollars per month, a somewhat slender 
allowance on which to support a family. Li 
July of that same }-ear, while at work in the 
liarvest field, he was overcome by the heat, 
rendered unconscious and died from the ef- 



fects of what is popularly termed "sun- 
stroke," before he could be removed from 
the wheat field. He left a widow and three 
little children, whose condition was really 
pitiable. Only a few months in America, 
unfamiliar with the language of the country 
and without any knowledge of the ways or 
customs of the people, the outlook was in- 
deed gloomy to the sorrowing mother with 
her three helpless little orphans, the oldest 
of whom was less than six years old. The 
sorrow of parting with her little ones was 
little less than the misery entailed by the 
original loss and she determined at all haz- 
ards to keep them together. The field of 
woman's work in those days was far nar- 
rower than it is at present, but she found 
employment, at a slender income, but suf- 
ficient to supply actual necessities for herself 
and children. She was young, comely, in- 
telligent and attractive, and when Peter 
Bourlier solicited the favor of her hand in 
marriage, she accepted him for her chil- 
dren's sake and upon his promise to prove a 
kind father to them. The children of the 
first marriage were Adolphus, the subject 
hereof, of wdiom more particular mention 
will be found hereafter ; Mary L. died at the 
age of thirteen years; Eugene, deceased; 
Paulina died in infancy. 

At the time of the second marriage the 
new husband moved the family to Holmes 
county, near Millersburgh, and there they 
lived until Adolphus was twelve years old. 
Mr. Bourlier then sold out and moved the 
family to Williams county, where the sub- 
ject grew to manhood. Meanwhile he had 
attended school during the winter months 
until he was fifteen years old. He was an 
apt pupil, readily gained and retained 
knowledge and has a much better education 



4i6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



than others with better opportunities. His 
first worldly possessions were two calves, 
presented to him by his stepfather when he 
was sixteen years of age. They represent- 
ed the total amount of compensation he was 
to receive for one year's work. With these 
he made his start in life. It was an excellent 
beginning for a boy and was a sure precur- 
sor of the success he has attained. For his 
next year's work he got a colt, and after sell- 
ing the calves he bought a colt with the pur- 
pose of having a team, but having the op- 
portunity of selling one at a good figure he 
secured enough cash with which to pur- 
chase his stepfather's team and at the age of 
eighteen years began farmng on his own 
account. When twenty years of age he 
made his first investment in real estate. He 
purchased forty acres of land adjoining his 
step-father's farm, incurring an indebted- 
ness of nine hundred dollars. He chopped 
wood during the winter months and culti- 
vated his steij-father's farm in summer, year 
by year steadily increasing his supply of 
ready money. After four years and after 
having cleared about half of his land, he got 
a chance to sell the place, receiving more 
money than he had ever owned up to that 
time. He immediately invested in another 
farm, going in debt two thousand dollars, 
and after two years sold that at a good 
profit. Having an ambition to be a mer- 
chant, he went to Archibald, Ohio, and, in 
partnership with his brother-in-law, A. L. 
Pierson, branched out in the grocery busi- 
ness. Six months sufficed to convince him 
that his talents were not intended for that 
vocation. He closed out and engaged in 
threshing grain the remainder of that sea- 
son. 

February 19, 1870, Mr. Carrysot was 



united in marriage to Miss Samantha Febu- 
ary, a native of France, born in that country 
June 15, 1848. Her parents were Isadore 
and Jeannette (Burnett) Febuary, both na- 
tives of France. Samantha was only one 
year old when her parents brought her to 
America. They settled in Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, where the father, Isadore, en- 
gaged in farming. Later they moved to 
Holmes county, where Isadore was killed by 
the falling of some timbers at a barn rais- 
ing, in 1858. He left a widow and three 
children, viz : Mary, widow of Alexander 
Pierson; Henry, a resident of Pennsylvania, 
and Samantha, wife of the subject. Left 
almost at the verge of destitution, the chil- 
dren were obliged to seek employment 
wherever they could get it. At the age of 
fourteen Samantha began working out by 
the week and continued doing so up to the 
time of her marriage. Her mother died in 
May, 1880. 

In the fall of 1875, Mr. Carrysot went 
to Kansas and purchased a quarter section 
of land, and in the following spring moved 
his family out, and took up his abode in a 
vacant house near by. He broke the entire 
quarter section and put it in cultivation, but 
never settled on it. In the meantime, he 
had bought a claim from a man by the name 
of David, near his other farm. This prop- 
erty had little improvements upon it and a 
fairly good house, and here he moved his 
family. His wife was not cointented in 
the land of sunflowers and gentle zephyrs, 
so he moved to Indiana, located at Fort 
Wayne and engaged in the wholesale meat 
business. He liked this business no better 
than selling groceries and remained with it 
no longer. By a little diplomatic dickering 
and a number of shrewd deals he succeeded 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



417 



in getting rid of his Kansas possessions and 
in return therefor became the owner of one 
liundred and sixty acres of choice Wells 
county land, the same upon which he now 
resides. At the time of making his removal 
to Kansas he was accompanied by his wife's 
mother and brother. His step-father died 
in Williams county, Ohio, in 1878, and he 
then went there to settle up the estate, and 
after closing matters there, he returned to 
Kansas, bringing his mother with him. She 
died in that state, April 3, 1880. 

When Adolphus Carrysot mo^-ed to his 
present farm, those living in the vicinity pre- 
dicted that he would starve to death on it. 
Those people evidently did not know the 
manner of man they were talking about. He 
had been in the woods before and served an 
apprenticeship in getting rid of swamps. He 
applied himself assiduously to clearing, 
ditching and fencing and so far from starv- 
ing has he been that his finanical condition 
has been growing better every day since. 
He now has one hundred and forty acres 
cleared and in a fine state of cultivation. In 
1888 he built a bank barn thirty-eight by 
si.xty-four feet, which cost him nineteen 
hundred dollars, and in the spring of 1901 
he erected a farm residence of nine rooms 
at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars. The 
money that went into these structures simply 
represents the industry, economy and thrift 
of Adolphus Carrysot and his faithful wife, 
Samantha. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Carrysot five children 
have been born, viz : Mary A., born Feb- 
ruary 20. 1871, is the wife of Israel Raver; 
they reside in Rock Creek township and are 
the parents of four children, Vivian B., 
Leona V., Martha L., and an infant son, 
unnamed. Sarah died at the age of five 



weeks: Lena I., born May 28, 1879, is the 
wife of James W. Dowty, a resident of 
Lancaster township, and they are the par- 
ents of two children, June M. and Paul 
Adam Adolphus; Henry L., born Septem- 
ber 18, 1881, has a splendid business educa- 
tion and is now employed as bookkeeper 
and stenographer with a firm in Seattle, 
Wash. He married Iva E. Crook in Sep- 
tember, 1902; Edith L., born Februarv 14, 
1892. 

During the "good roads era" in Indiana, 
when the bottomless mud roads of the state 
were in the process of conversion into fine 
turnpikes, in partnership with James Cros- 
by, Sr., Adolphus Carrysot secured a num- 
ber of gravel road contracts. They built 
portions of the following gravel roads : the 
Lee Davis road in Union township, the My- 
ers road in Harrison township and the Gar- 
rett road in Nottingham township, and Mr. 
Carrysot was superintendent of construc- 
tion of the "Bush" gravel road. In every 
public enterprise he has always been a lead- 
er and through his push, energy and tenaci- 
ty many worthy improvements have been 
forced to completion that otherwise might 
have failed. 

During all the life of the Republican 
party Adolphus Carrysot has been a firm 
believer in that political faith. In 1898 he 
was a candidate on the Republican county 
ticket for county commissioner. He has 
served as a delegate in many of the Repub- 
lican county and state conventions and in 
1900 was census taker for Lancaster town- 
ship. For eight years he represented his 
township in the county central committee. 
Beginning life humbly at the foot of the lad- 
der of success, he has, by a course of manly 
and persistent endeavor, mounted to the 



4i8 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



top and now he can review his past record 
with the consciousness of having done his 
very best under all circumstances. He be- 
gan active life in the right manner and to 
this fact and the gifts of head and heart of 
which he- is possessed, he and his wife owe 
the splendid success they have attained. 



MARION GARTON. 

This young agriculturist and stock rais- 
er and one of the most enterprising resi- 
dents of Lancaster township. Wells county, 
Indiana, was born November 22, i860, on 
the farm his grandfather. Jonathan Garton, 
had entered many years ago in this town- 
ship and which is now owned by the widow 
Bowman. 

Marion Garton is a son of Henry J. and 
Anna Maria Garton. He was reared on the 
farm alluded to above until sixteen 3'ears of 
age, when he began clerking in a general 
store in Pugney, Indiana, where he passed 
some time, gaining a fair insight into mer-. 
cantile affairs. He there married, December 
II, 1878, Miss Nancy M. Wilkin, a daugh- 
ter of William and Mary (Trenary) Wil- 
kin, and a native of Lancaster township, 
born September 19, i860. After marriage, 
Marion Garton and his bride went to live 
with his father, for whom they kept house 
and assisted in farming the place for about 
five years, after which he engaged in the 
manufacture of tile for about ten years. 
Later he for three years employed himself 
in farming in conjunction with tilemaking, 
having in the meanwhile, in 1883, taken pos- 
session of the farm on which he no\\- makes 
his home. The farm comprises eighty acres. 



sixty acres of which he has cleared and well 
ditched and on which he has erected a 
substantial barn and other necessary out- 
buildings for the accommodation of his 
stock and other purposes. Mr. Garton de- 
votes the greater part of his attention to the 
breeding of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, 
Shropshire sheep and Chester White hogs, 
and is ready at all times to furnish buyers 
with thoroughbred breeding stock. To 
keep his graded animals well up to the mark, 
Mr. Garton purchased in 1902, a cow and 
calf for two hundred and twenty-five dol- 
lars and a bull for one hundred and fifteen 
dollars, and with these it is his hope to keep 
his graded animals in good supply and fully 
up to the mark. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Marion Garton have 
been born five children, in the following or- 
der : Chloe M., May 2, 1880; Emma D., 
January 26, 1882; Hiram F., July 19, 1884: 
Hazel A., April 25, 189 1, and Anna Fay, 
August 8, 1894. 

Fraternally Mr. Garton is a member of 
the Knights of Pythias lodge at Tocsin, In- 
diana, and politically he is a Democrat of 
the most stalwart kind. He has served as 
delegate from his district to various con- 
ventions of his party and in 1899 was his 
party's candidate for sheriff of Wells 
county, but with the rest of the ticket was 
defeated by a small majority. He has also 
served as a grand juryman. 

Mr. Garton, it will have been perceived 
from the foregoing, has always been an ac- 
tive man of business, ready to turn his hand 
to anything that promised to bring him sat- 
isfactory returns, and as a rule he has been 
very successful in all his undertakings. If 
he has not altogether made all he possesses, 
he has at least made good use of everything 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



419 



that has come into his hands and increased 
it in value. He has led a strictly upright 
life and has won the esteem of all who 
know him. He is honored not only for his 
industry and practical business methods, but 
for his many personal merits and in this 
general esteem his wife and children have 
a full share. In the social circles of Lan- 
caster township the Carton family stand 
deservedly high, the name is duly respected 
wherever known, and no men of Air. Car- 
ton's years can claim a higher standing 
among their fellow citizens. 



D.WID CROSS HUFFMAN. M. D. 

This already eminent, but still rising 
physician and surgeon of Craigville. Wells 
county. Indiana, was born in Clark county, 
Ohio, October 29, 1853. His father, Jacob 
Huffman, Jr.. was also a native of Clark 
county, Ohio, and was born in Mad River 
township in 1830, and died in 1877, of apo- 
plexy. The grandfather of the J)octor, Ja- 
cob Huffman, Sr., was born in Lancaster, 
county, Pennsylvania, a son of Henry Huff- 
man, and emigrated to Ohio in 1800, before 
the then territory was admitted to the Union 
as a state, later receiving a grant of two 
hundred and twent_y-fave acres of land, the 
title deed to which was signed by President 
Thomas Jefferson. Jacob Huffman, Jr., 
married Sarah Tennant, who was born in 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, 
and now resides in Springfield, Ohio, and 
who bore her husband the following named 
children : Mrs. Emily H. Beavis. of De- 
troit, Michigan ; Dr. David C. : Jacob, de- 
ceased: Charles, a merchant in Davton, 



Ohio; Mrs. Martha Van Bird and Mrs. 
Laura Stickney, both of Springfield. 

Dr. David C. Huffman acquired his lit- 
erary education in the grammar and high 
schools of Springfield, and in 1876 entered 
Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, from 
which he was graduated in 1876. For the fol- 
lowing seven years he was actively employed 
in the practice of his profession in Spring- 
field, winning a high position among his 
fellow practitioners of that city, and conse- 
quently a fair remuneration for his service. 
He then came to Indiana and located at 
Mount Zion, Wells county, whence he 
moved in 1894 to Craigville, where he has 
since lieen busily engaged with his numer- 
ous patients and where he stands at the 
head and front of his profession. 

Dr. Huffman was united in marriage at 
Yellow Springs, Ohio, January 20, 1882, 
with Miss Anna Landaker, a daughter of 
Gideon Landaker and Hester (Stratton) 
Landaker, the former a merchant from 
\'irginia and an ex-soldier, antl the latter 
from College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio. The 
union of the Doctor and his wife has been 
graced with three children, namely : Wor- 
den D., born April 20, 1887; Pansy, born 
January 2, 1889, and Gideon, born Novem- 
ber 5, 1890. Mrs. Huffman is a member of 
the United Brethren church, in the good 
work of which she takes an energetic and 
deeply interested part and to the mainte- 
nance of which both she and husband freely 
contribute financially. In politics the Doc- 
tor is a Democrat. Of the medical frater- 
nities the Doctor is a member of the Clark 
County (Ohio) Medical Society, of which 
he is secretary, and also a member of the 
Ijoard of censors while practicing in Spring- 
field: he is also a member of the Wells 



420 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



County (Indiana) Medical Society, and to 
both of these associations he has contributed 
many vahiable papers on professional sub- 
jects. The Doctor has a very pleasant home 
in Craigville and in social circles he and 
■wife fill a conspicuous position. They are 
especially esteemed for their many personal 
excellencies and deserve all the respect that 
is paid them 



HENRY J. CARTON. 

One of the prominent farmers of Lan- 
caster township, Wells county, Indiana, is 
Henry J. Carton, who was born in New Jer- 
sey, January 28, 1835, a son of Jonathan and 
Elizabeth (Souders) Carton, also natives 
of New Jersey and of Irish and Dutch de- 
scent. Jonathan and Elizabeth (Souders) 
Carton were married in New Jersey, and 
there made their home until 1837, when 
they remo\'ed to Franklin county, Indiana, 
and rented land for about five years, after 
which they came to Wells county, Indiana. 
He had come here the previous year and en- 
tered one hundred and sixty acres of gov- 
ernment land in Lancaster township, from 
which he developed an excellent farm on 
which he and his wife died some years ago, 
in the Universalist faith. They were the 
parents of eight children, namely : Cather- 
ine, who died at the age of twelve years; 
Eliza, deceased wife of Lemuel Paynter; 
Louis, a resident of Lancaster township; 
Lydia, deceased wife of James Dailey; 
Oliver P., deceased; Andrew J., deceased; 
Henry J., to whose interests this sketch is 
principally devoted, and a daughter that died 
in infancy. Jonathan Carton, the father of 



the above named children, was judge of the 
common pleas court for four or five years, 
and also served for several years as county 
commissioner, and likewise for a long time 
as justice of the peace. 

Henry J. Carton was but seven years of 
age when his parents settled in Lancaster 
township. Wells county. Here he attended 
school until twenty-one years of age and 
later supplemented the education thus ac- 
quired by study at home during the winters 
for some considerable time. At the age of 
nineteen he had begun to work for himself, 
and at the same time made an agreement 
with his father, under which there was fifty 
dollars a year to be turned over to that gen- 
tleman as long as this agreement remained 
mutually satisfactory. Under such circum- 
stances, Henry J. worked out at farm work 
by the day, or month, for three years or 
longer, and then rented the homestead, pay- 
ing for its use and occupancy one-half the 
products annually. This arrangement held 
good until 1864, but in the meantime, in 
1 86 1, Henry J. had purchased eighty acres 
of the farm on which he now lives, but 
bought it on credit ; yet he worked at clear- 
ing it up during the winter months, and in 
1864 had earned sufficient means from his 
labors on his father's place to pay for his 
own property. In 1865, Henry J. Carton 
moved upon his own place, eight acres of 
which he had cleared off. He at once erect- 
ed his present dwelling and put up a shanty 
for his horses and cattle and the same year 
he built his first frame barn; subsequently 
he put up another barn, and has since kept 
adding to his improvements until at the pres- 
ent time he has as neat and tidy a place as 
there is in Lancaster township. Of his own 
eighty-acre tract, secured by purchase, Mr. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Garton has cleared seventy-five acres and has 
placed it under cultivation and thoroughly 
ditched it. He also owns eighty acres of 
the old home place, seventy acres of which 
have been cleared, and thus has a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, all in one compact 
body. 

H. J. Garton was united in marriage 
January 5, i860, with ]\Iiss Anna M. Trul- 
lender, who was born in Lancaster town- 
ship, this county. October 2, 1842, and was 
a daughter of Hiram and Ruth Trullender, 
who came from New Jersey and settled here 
in an early day. Mrs. Anna M. Garton was 
a most amiable lady and a true helpmate 
to her husband, but was called hence July 
31, 1878, having borne her husband six 
children: Marion, Ida, Adella, Robert, Lu- 
cinda and Frank. Of these children Marion 
married Nancy Wilkins, who has borne 
him five children; Chloe, Emma, Hiram, 
Hazel and Fay. The father of these chil- 
dren, Marion Garton, lives on and cultivates 
the southern eighty acres of the old home- 
stead. Ida. the second child, Delia, the third 
child, and Robert, the fourth child of Henry 
J. Garton and wife, as mentioned above, are 
all deceased; Lucinda. the fifth child, is the 
wife of Harvey Diehl. of Marion, Indiana; 
Frank, the sixth child, is married to 
Margaret Wasson, who has borne him 
three children : Haldie, Harry and Donald, 
and all make their home on the old home 
place. 

H. J. Garton is a Universalist in religion 
and in politics he is a Democrat. Socially he 
stands very high in the community, as he 
descends from one of the oldest families in 
the county, and his own personal merits have 
won for him an esteem which is seldom ac- 
corded spontaneously to any citizen. 



JOEL FRY. 

In the daily laborious struggle for an 
honorable competence and a solid career on 
the part of a business or professional man 
there, is little to attract the casual reader in 
search of a sensational chapter; but to a 
mind thoroughly awake to the realit}' and 
meaning of human existence there are no- 
ble and imperishable lessons in the career of 
an individual who, without other means 
than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, 
directed and controlled b}- correct principles 
and unerring judgment, conquers adver- 
sity and, toiling on, finally wins, not only 
pecuniary independence but, what is far 
greater and higher, the deserved respect 
and confidence of those with whom his ac- 
tive years have been passed. 

Back in the early 'fifties there came to this 
country a sturdy Frenchman, Albert Fry by 
name, who was convinced of the possibili- 
ties and opportunities awaiting the man of 
ambition, pluck, and energy, in this land of 
freedom. He located in Wayne county, 
Ohio, and about 1856 was united in mar- 
riage with Susan Ashbaucher, the daughter 
of Peter Ashbaucher, a prominent farmer of 
Wayne county and a native of Switzerland. 
To this union there was born, on the 31st 
of Alarch, 1858, a son, Joel, the immediate 
subject of this sketch. While the latter was 
yet a babe, the war of the Rebellion was 
precipitated and Albert Fry was among the 
first of the brave volunteers from his 
county to offer their services, and lives if 
need be. that the integrity of the national 
government might be maintained. In 1864, 
after several years of active and arduous 
service, he was granted a furlough and 
started for home, but, like manv others, was 



422 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



stricken with sickness and died before reach- 
ing his loved ones. 

Shortly after her husband's death Mrs. 
Fry and her son came to Indiana, locating 
in Adams county where, in 1869, Mrs. Fry 
was married to John Yost. Joel Fry re- 
mained with his mother until attaining man- 
hood, in the meantime attending the district 
schools of the neighborhood and acquiring 
a fair education. Until he was eighteen 
years of age he worked on his step-father's 
farm and acquired a thorough knowledge 
of agriculture. At the age mentioned he 
started out to earn his own living, possess- 
ing no capital other than a determination to 
succeed and an energy and capability for 
work which was bound to result in his favor. 
For a year he struggled, doing any work he 
could find to do, turning his back upon noth- 
ing that promised him an opportunity to 
earn an honest dollar. By strenuous en- 
deavor and rigid economy he was at length 
enabled to purchase a threshing machine in 
partnership with his uncle, Albert Yeager. 
and continued in the operation of this ma- 
chine until he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he sold his interest in the business to 
his partner. The following year he moved 
to Wells county and purchased a portable 
saw-mill and followed the lumber business 
for two years with a fair degree of profit. 
He had acquired a good working knowledge 
of business methods and had won for him- 
self a reputation for honesty and fair deal- 
ing which assisted him materially in his fu- 
ture operations. Feel'ing that the pursuit of 
agriculture offered the most independent 
life and the surest returns, if properly man- 
aged, he, in the fall of 1882, purchased the 
farm in section 31, Lancaster township, 
upon which he now resides. This farm 



comprises one hundred and five acres and 
has been developed and improved by the 
subject until it now ranks with the best 
farms of the township. Mr. Fry continued 
to operate the saw-mill in connection with 
his farm until the spring of 1902, when he 
ceased the operation of the former and has 
since devoted his entire attention to his 
farm. He bestows great care upon his fields 
and by closely studying the adaptability of 
the soil to the dififerent crops has brought 
his place up to its highest producing capaci- 
ty, never failing to realize abundant returns 
for the time and labor devoted to his chosen 
calling. 

On the 22d of February, 1880, Mr. 
Fry was united in marriage with Miss 
Sarah StaufTer, the daughter of Christian 
Stauffer, of Adams county. This union has 
been a most congenial one and ]\Irs. Fry has 
in many ways proven herself a helpmate in 
the truest sense of the word. They are the 
parents of six children, briefly mentioned 
as follows : Delia Belle, born April 7, 188 1 ; 
Arley Hiram, born December 26, 1882; 
Meadie, born .\pril 4, 1887; Ada Pearl, 
born February 18, 1890; Homer Franklin, 
born August 4, 1893, and Walter Edward, 
born March 23, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Fry 
are endeavoring to give their children good 
educations and rear them in such a manner 
as will result in the highest standard of man- 
hood and womanhood. 

From the attainment of his majority 
Mr. Fry has been actively identified with the 
Democratic party and has always taken a 
keen interest in the advancement of his par- 
ty's interests. In the fall of 1900 he was 
nominated for the office of township trustee 
and at the ensuing election was successful 
at the polls and is now serving in this re- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



423 



sponsible position. He is giving to the du- 
ties of this office the same careful attention 
to details as characterized his conduct of his 
own affairs and the wise discrimination and 
sound judgment evinced by him have al- 
ready won for him the hearty commendation 
of all people, regardless of party. Frater- 
nally Mr. Fry is a member of the Knights of 
Pvthias, having joined the order in the fall 
of 1902, in Bluffton Lodge No. 92. In 
1897 the subject united with the First Re- 
formed church of Bluffton and has since 
been a faithful and devoted member of that 
congregation. He gives liberally of his 
means to all worthy objects and all move- 
ments having for their object the betterment 
of his fellow men receive his earnest sup- 
port. He is a man of quiet, gentlemanly de- 
meanor, highly esteemed by his neighbors 
and fellow citizens of the community and 
no one occupies a more conspicuous place in 
the minds and hearts of the people by whom 
he is known. His private character is above 
criticism and he has always aimed to keep 
his name and reputation unspotted. His has 
been an earnest life, fraught with much that 
tends to benefit his kind and his career in 
the humble sphere of private citizenship, as 
well as in public position, has added to the 
character and stability of the community 
in which he lives. 



A. S. ABBOTT. 

'To be successful it is necessary that the 
person be adapted to the calling in which he 
engages. There are some people possessed 
of sufficient versatility to be seemingly suc- 
cessful in all they undertake, but the average 
man must be fitted for his calling. Some 



people flounder around half their lives, 
shifting from one vocation to another, be- 
fore they discover what they are fitted for; 
others strike, seemingly by accident, the 
business best suited to them, while still 
others almost intuitively take up the work 
in which they are destined to excell. A 
successful merchant might be a rank fail- 
ure as a mechanic, and instances where good 
mechanics are spoiled to make poor poli- 
ticians are numerous in nearly every com- 
munity. When Alfred Sherman Abbott, 
the subject of this sketch, quit his grand- 
father's home in Shelby county, Ohio, and 
came to Craigville, Wells county, Indiana, 
to engage in the general mercantile business 
with his father he struck a calling for which 
he is well fitted, as his experience of the past 
twelve years has disclosed. 

Alfred S. Abbott was born in Shelby 
county, Ohio, February 28, 1865. When he 
was seven years old his father, Daniel W. 
Abbott, who was a United Brethren minis- 
ter, was given a circuit in Jay county, Indi- 
ana, and thither the family was moved. In 
the district schools of Indiana young Ab- 
bott laid the foundation for a good, liberal 
education. Having taken the regular course 
there, he attended the high school at Ada, 
Ohio, acquiring a very thorough knowledge 
of all the branches there taught. On com- 
pleting his school course he for a time 
traveled about Ohio, seemingly undecided 
what would be best for him to engage in. 
In the summer of 1886 he turned up at the 
old home in Shelby county, Ohio, where 
his grandfather still lived, and was prevailed 
upon by the old gentleman to take up work 
on the farm. He was industrious and provi- 
dent, his crops and stock thrived and har- 
vests were abundant. 

April 15. 1888. he was united in mar- 



424 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



riage to Miss Laura C. Rhoads, of Rock- 
ford. She was a lady of good education 
and many accomplishments, a teacher in the 
public schools of Mercer county. He con- 
tinued cultivating his grandfather's farm 
until the fall of i8go, when he was invited 
by his father to come to Craigville and en- 
gage with him in the mercantile business, 
as clerk and assistant, and, with some mis- 
givings, he accepted the invitation. The 
move proved to be a wise one. Rev. Ab- 
bott was postmaster under the Harrison ad- 
ministration, and most of the labor of the 
office devolved upon the subject. His ex- 
perience in the store and in the postoffice he 
found most beneficial, being a sort of com- 
mercial education in itself. Under the ad- 
ministration of President McKinley, in 
1898, Alfred S. Abbott was appointed post- 
master, and in 1900 he purchased the store 
of his father and since then has conducted 
it alone. Under the present administration 
he has been reappointed postmaster, and his 
conduct of the office has given very general 
satisfaction. The business of the store con- 
tinues steadily to increase, trade being 
drawn from a large area of territory each 
successive year. Business is conducted in 
a prudent, systematic manner that cannot 
but win the favor of patrons, and prosperity 
is the inevitable result. Few young men be- 
ginning in the mercantile line without ex- 
perience, as A. S. Abbott did, have been as 
eminently successful as he has. 

In January, 1893, Mr. Abbott experi- 
enced his first real misfortune. His young 
wife bade farewell to earth, entrusting to 
her young husband the care of their two 
babes, Minnie M., who had been born Au- 
gust 26, 1890, the other Laura J., an infant 
of but a few days, born January 20,1893, but 



who survived her mother only about six 
months. These bereavements were most 
keenly felt by the young business man. He, 
however, applied himself only the more 
closely to business, endeavoring to forget 
his sorrows by smothering them with busi- 
ness cares. After a period of nearly two 
years he was again united in marriage, this 
time to Laura C. Reed, daughter of David 
and Elizabeth Reed, of Lancaster township. 
His present wife was also a school teacher, 
having taught a number of terms in the vi- 
cinity of their present home. To this latter 
marriage three children have been born : 
Bertha May, September 13, 1895; Loyd 
Allen, April 11, 1899, and Helen Margaret, 
January 12, 1901. 

Twice appointed postmaster, each time 
under a Republican administration, it seems 
superfluous to mention that Mr. Abbott is 
a Republican. Politics, however, is not in 
his line, business being the first consider- 
ation with him. He is a member and a regu- 
lar attendant at the services of the United 
Brethren church, has been one of its trus- 
tees for a number of years and is now super- 
intendent of the Sunday school. His stand- 
ing in the community is above reproach and 
there is scarcely a person in town or country 
surrounding that is not his personal friend. 



B. F. HOWER. 

The largest general store in Lancaster 
township. Wells county, Indiana, is that 
owned and conducted by Benjamin Frank- 
lin Hower in Craigville, of which town he 
was formerly the postmaster. He was born 
in Kirkland township, Adams county, Indi- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



425 



ana, May 6, 1859, a son of Joseph and 
Rachael (Proctor) Hower. Joseph Hower, 
the father, a native of Champaign county, 
Ohio, was born in 1836, was reared a farmer, 
married Rachael Proctor in the spring of 
1858 and in the fall of the same year settled 
in Kirkland township, Adams county. 
There he purchased a farm, on which he re- 
sided until his death, which occurred in 
January, 1873, '^"'^ ^^'^^ caused by that fell 
and insidious disorder, consumption. Not- 
withstanding the weakened condition of his 
system, brought on by this fatal disease, 
Joseph Hower bore its ravages with Chris- 
tian resignation, and when he was called 
away the community sincerel)' mourned his 
loss, while to his family it was irreparable. 

Benjamin F. Hower attended the dis- 
trict school of his native township until he 
reached the age of fourteen years, at \\hich 
age he lost his father. Benjamin then un- 
dertook the management of the homestead 
for his mother and operated it in her interest 
until his marriage, which took place Septem- 
ber 24, 188 1, to Miss Susan Baum, a daugh- 
ter of Benjamin and Susan Baum, of Adams 
county. Mr. Hower continued to reside on 
the old homestead for six years after his 
marriage, when in 1887 he removed to 
Craigville and embarked in his present busi- 
ness, which, considering the limited num- 
ber of inhabitants in the township, has 
reached mammoth proportions. He has 
shown himself to be a shirewd business man. 
keeping in touch with the people and clearly 
anticipating their needs. His stock in trade 
is invariably well selected and equally well 
assorted, so that the most fastidious patron 
may be thoroughly satisfied. Mr. Hower is 
also an accomplished salesman, a qualifica- 
tion that seems to be natural to him, and 
affability and courtesy are equally innate. 



When he once meets with a patron he, 
through his straightforward dealing and 
avoidance of misrepresentations of any 
kind, secures him for all time, and this is 
the true secret of all successful merchandis- 
ing. 

The Hower family of children number 
seven, to-wit : Minnie Pearl, born June 18, 
1882, and married to Martin Kaufman, of 
Lancaster township; Gertha M., born March 
26, 1886; Sarah Elizabeth, born February 
15, 1890; Ada Belle, born February 16, 
1892, and died September 7, 1892 ; Hattie 
Mabel, born October 11, 1895; Raymond, 
born April 6, 1897, and Herbert, born July 
4, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Hower and their 
children of suitable age are members of the 
C. U. church at Craigville, to the mainten- 
ance of which they are most liberal con- 
tributors financially, and in whose doctrines 
they are sincere believers, being desirous 
that others, outside its pale, shall be brought 
within the fold. In politics Mr. Hower is 
a stanch Democrat and in the interests 
of his party never fails to make any reason- 
able sacrifice of his time and labor. In par- 
tial recognition of his devotion to his princi- 
ples and party, he was appointed, during 
President Cleveland's second administra- 
tion, postmaster of Craigville and for four 
years filled the office with ability and to the 
entire satisfaction of the postofiice department 
at ^^'ashington and to the gratification of the 
public of Lancaster township. 



PHILEMON A. ALLEN. 

Philemon A. Allen is a native of \\'hit- 
ley county, Indiana, and was born near 
Coesse on the 29th day of January, 1853. 



426 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



being the eighth in order of birth of nine 
children of Nathaniel and Eliza (Force) 
Allen, both of whom were born in Akron, 
Ohio, representatives of honored pioneer 
families of the Buckeye state. They were 
reared in their native state, and in the year 
1843 moved to Whitley county. Indiana, 
which section at that time was almost entire- 
ly unreclaimed from its primitive wilder- 
ness condition. The father at once located 
on a heavily timbered tract of land, which 
he began to clear and make ready for culti- 
vation. He erected a saw-mill, which was 
the first in the county, and was for that 
reason very much appreciated by the set- 
tlers. The family abode was at first a mod- 
est log cabin, typical of the place and the 
period, but the intelligence and progress- 
ive character of Nathaniel Allen was such 
as to secure advancement in temporal af- 
fairs, and he- contributed his full share of 
effort toward the development of the county. 
He and his wife were both active members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church and often 
in those days, before the erection of church 
buildings, their home was opened for re- 
ligious services, conducted by the pioneer 
circuit riders, and the preacher of that per- 
iod was sure of a welcome in the home 
whenever his long journey brought him in 
their vicinity. Of the nine children born 
to Nathaniel and Eliza Allen, three died in 
infancy, while the parents resided in Akron, 
Ohio. Those who lived to mature years 
were as follows : \\'i]liam A., Wesley W., H. 
Wallace, Cynthia J-. Philemon A. and Mary 
E. Cynthia became the wife of Isaac Hull 
and moved to Kansas, where she died, leav- 
ing several children. Mary E. became the 
wife of John W. Waugh and died in 1893, 
leaving five daughters and a son. William and 



Wesley both ser\'ed in the war of the Rebel- 
lion and are still living in Whitley county. 
Wallace went to Kansas in the '70s and still 
resides there. 

Philemon A. Allen grew to manhood in 
his native county, and the days of his boy- 
hood and youth were passed as the life of 
the average boy reared on the farm. He at- 
tended the common schools during the short 
terms they were in session each year and the 
rest of the time was spent in helping to cul- 
tivate the farm. At the age of seventeen 
\'ears he was qualified to teach and was first 
licensed by that pioneer educator, I. B. Mc- 
Donald. He taught two years in what was 
called the "Log London" school and one 
year in the Snyder school. He then took a 
course of study in the normal school at Leb- 
anon, Ohio, after which he went to Mason 
county, Illinois, where he taught for two 
years. In the spring of 1875 he took some 
special studies in the Fort Wayne College 
and a few months later was called to take 
charge of the normal department in that in- 
stitution, which he conducted very success- 
fully for two years. In the fall of 1877 he 
took charge of the schools at Ossian, Indi- 
ana, which position he held for four years 
and brought the school to a high standard of 
excellence. It was during his administration 
that the excellent high school at that place 
was organized, which has each year since 
then sent out fine classes of graduates. In 
the summer of 188 1 Mr. Allen took an exten- 
sive European trip, and among other things, 
made a study of the school system in the 
countries he visited. On his return from Eu- 
rope he took the superintendency of the 
schools at Blufi'ton, Indiana, which position 
he held for ten }-ears. On taking charge of 
the schools of that city he at once organized 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



427 



the high school, whicli graduated its first 
class in June, 1883. Early in his adminis- 
tration the Bluffton high school was com- 
missioned and the entire school system of the 
city was brought to such a state of efficiency 
that it was recognized as one of the best in 
the state. At the close of an entire decade of 
service as superintendent nf the pjluffton 
schools, Mr. Allen resigned the position, hav- 
ing negotiated for the purchase of a half in- 
terest in the Bluffton Banner. The board of 
education was reluctant to accept his resigna- 
tion and endeavored to prevail upon him to 
continue in the position. But having for some 
time been desirous of engaging in journalism 
he adhered to his purpose, and in May, 189 1, 
he assumed editorial charge of the Banner 
and continued in that position until January, 
1902, when he sold his interest in the paper 
to the present editor. Under his manage- 
ment the paper advanced rapidly in circu- 
lation and influence, and was noted for the 
high tone which characterized its editorial 
and news columns. Having always been iden- 
tified with the best and highest interests of 
the community and county in which he has 
resided for twenty-five years, he has never 
hesitated to make bold and effective attacks 
upon whatever was at war with those best in- 
terests. Duringthe eleven years of his connec- 
tion with the Bluffton Banner he maintained 
a lively interest in educational affairs, all 
school enterprises receiving ample and most 
complimentary notice in his columns. In 
politics Mr. Allen has always been an un- 
compromising Democrat and under his di- 
rection the Banner led the party to victory 
in several very closely contested local fights. 
On December 25, 1884, Mr. Allen was 
united in marriage with Miss Georgiana 
Swaim, of Ossian, Indiana, a native of Troy, 



Ohiij. To them were born two children, For- 
rest, now in his eighteenth year, who will 
graduate from the Bluffton high school this 
year, and Lucile, who died February 6, 189 1, 
at the age of two years and four months. 
In fraternal relations Mr. Allen is identified 
with the Masonic order, being a member of 
Bluffton Lodge No. 145, F. & A. M., and 
also of the Royal Arch chapter. He has been 
from young manhood a zealous member of 
the ■Methodist Episcopal church, serving for 
many years on the board of trustees of the 
Bluffton church. He has been for a long 
time superintendent of the Sunday school of 
that church, having recently been elected to 
that office for the twentieth year. Mrs. Al- 
len and their son Forrest are also members 
of the same church. 



JOHN C. FULTON, M. D. 

The man who bears numerous relations 
to the public and in each of them acquits him- 
self not only with credit but with honor, is 
deser\ing of much at the hands of his biogra- 
pher, far more than is the worthy subject of 
this sketch. Dr. J. C. Fulton, of Bluffton, li- 
able to receive from the writer hereof, or in 
a work of as limited a scope as the present 
volume. The eminent Irish orator, Charles 
Phillips, described Napoleon Bonaparte as 
"a man without a model and without a 
shadow." The compliment is distinctively 
Irish, because it includes the evil as well as 
the good. Of Dr. Fulton no evil has been or 
can be said. His virtues are so many and so 
predominant over all of the weaknesses at- 
tributable to human nature that to mention 
them would be to insult the intelligence of 



428 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



thousands of worthy citizens of Wells 
county, where for more than thirty-two years 
Dr. Fulton has practiced his profession as a 
physician and surgeon. Eulogy in his case 
is wholly superfluous. The old and the 
young, the feeble and the bold, the maimed 
and the sound, all alike, sing his praise. 

The Fultons are of Irish ancestry. The 
family in America sprang from four brothers 
who left their native land for America pre- 
vious to the war of the Revolution, in 1765. 
The brothers were James, Joseph, Robert 
and Abraham, the former being the great- 
great-grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch. Their two sisters. Margaret and 
Polly, accompanied them on that important 
trip to America. Here in America, Mar- 
garet became Mrs. Quinn and Polly became 
Mrs. Boyde. Four of the sons of the latter. 
John, James, Benjamin and Abraham, en- 
tered the Presbyterian ministry, and to their 
eloquence, religious earnestness and zeal 
much of the grand work accomplished by 
Presbyterianism in America is due. The 
Fulton family in Ireland were among the 
early members of that denomination in that 
country. 

James Fulton, the great-grandfather of 
Dr. J. C. Fulton, was the father of five sons 
and one daughter, viz: James, Abraham, 
. Robert, Cochran, Benjamin and Sarah, of 
whom Abraham is the grandfather of the 
subject hereof. His wife was Miss Anna 
Smith and they were the parents of seven 
sons, all of whom grew to manhood. James, 
the eldest of these seven brothers, died at 
the age of eighty-four years, without issue. 
Robert died at the age of seventy-eight years, 
leaving seven children. Abraham died when 
ninety years old, leaving seven children. 
John, who died at the age of forty-five 



years, was the father of eight children. 
David, who died aged eighty-two years, left 
a family of six children. Cochran died at 
the age of seventy-six, leaving a son and a 
daughter. Andrew passed away at the early 
age of thirty-three years, leaving five chil- 
dren. John, above mentioned, the father of 
the subject, was attacked with a malignant 
form of milk sickness, which caused his 
death in 1855. In certain sections of Indi- 
ana this disease was quite prevalent in the 
early days, but is now seldom heard of. 
John Fulton was married in Wayne county, 
Ohio, in 1838, to Miss Sarah Egbert and in 
1840 they removed to Wells county, Indi- 
ana. The names of their eight children are 
as follows: Milton S., Martha A., John C, 
Alary E., Rachael A., Clara A., George E. 
and James C. With the exception of the 
last named, who died in infancy, the children 
all reached maturit}-, married and have 
children. 

Dr. J. C. Fulton, the subject of this re- 
A'iew, was born in Stark county, Ohio, on 
the 22d day of February, 1845, whilst his 
parents were temporarily spending the win- 
ter in that state. He was reared on a farm, 
attending school about three months of each 
year until the war of 1861-5, after which he 
attended Bluffton high school and later at- 
tended Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. 
Ohio. He began the practice of medicine in 
Murray, Wells county. Indiana, in 1870. 
The Doctor was married on the nth day of 
January, 1872, to Miss Jennie Belle Hanna, 
who died January 26, 1887, and on March 
8, 1888, he was married to Mary J. (Routh) 
Lesh. John C. Fulton and Jennie Belle 
(Hanna) Fulton were the parents of four 
children, viz: Minnie U. Lesh, Mabel D., 
Allie A. and Jennie B. M. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



429 



From the firing on Ft. Sumter, in April, 
1861, until the following October, Dr. Ful- 
ton was making his arrangements to enter 
the service of his country. When the 
Twelfth Indiana Regiment was organized 
he became a member of Company G, and 
served until May 12, 1862, in the Army of 
the Potomac. He was mustered out in the 
city of Washington by reason of the expi- 
ration of his term of enlistment. His brief 
term of service convinced him that the rebel- 
lion was not to be crushed in the limited 
space of time predicted by many. He would 
have re-enlisted immediately, but desired to 
return home and make his arrangements for 
a much longer period of absence. In Au- 
gust, 1862, he joined Company G, One Hun- 
dred and First Indiana Regiment, and served 
until the close of the war, being mustered 
out in June, 1865. Upon the organization 
of the regiment it was taken by rail to Cin- 
cinnati, thence to Louisville, where the line 
of march to Perrysville was taken up. The 
subject was one of a detail supplied to guard 
the wagon train, a position he desired, as 
involving more peril and excitement. The 
■battle of Milton, Tennessee, occurred March 
20, 1863, and in this engagement the One 
Hundred and First Indiana took a promi- 
nent part. With his regiment, Dr. Fulton 
took part in the Rosecrans campaign of 
Chattanooga, Tennessee, which included 
also the campaign of Chickamauga, Geor- 
gia. In the hot fight at Mission Ridge 
Dr. Fulton participated and later did his 
whole duty in the Atlanta campaign. 
He was with the regiment until it 
reached Goldsborough, North Carolina.where 
he was taken ill. In the march through 
Georgia, from Atlanta to Savannah, the 
army was much in need of horses and mules. 



Dr. Fulton was one of the number detailed 
to forage along the line of march for ani- 
mals of this species. At one time they 
turned over to the government four hun- 
dred and eighty equines, many of them val" 
uable animals. At another time they en- 
countered, in the dark, a company of twelve 
Confederates having charge of over one 
hundred head of horses and mules. The 
southerners were ignorant of the location of 
the rebel camp and the Doctor and his com- 
pany kindly volunteered to show them. 
When they landed with their animals in the 
Federal instead of the Confederate camp 
they felt that they were indeed "from Jilis- 
souri" and had been "shown." The lieu- 
tenant in charge of the Confederates was 
greatly chagrined. He was a bright young 
fellow and felt mortified at being so easily 
tricked. In all of his army experience the 
Doctor was wounded but once, and then 
only slightly. 

For a period of thirty-two years Dr. 
Fulton has been engaged in the practice of 
medicine and surgery in Wells county, hav- 
ing been so engaged longer than any other 
man of his calling in the county, except Dr. 
J. I. Metts, of Ossian. That he has been 
most eminently successful is conceded on 
every hand. At his time of life he would 
like to be less active, to have more time that 
he might call his own, and has a number of 
times determined to retire from the more 
exacting duties of his calling. But old pa- 
trons to whom he has ministered for 
thirty years will not be turned away. He 
feels that he owes it to himself to take life 
easier, but those old friends — patients of a 
life-time— also feel that some obligation is 
due to them, with the usual result in Dr. 
Fulton's case, that self is sacrificed. Away 



43° 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



in the dim past, when the various counties of 
the state knew nothing of a medical society, 
Dr. J. C. Fulton was one of the first to take 
the initiative in perfecting such an organi- 
zation in Wells county. He is now presi- 
dent of the Wells County Medical Society, 
a member of the State Medical Association 
and of the American Medical Association. 
Personally he is one of the most genial and 
companiable of men, one whose principles 
need never be questioned. In religion he is 
too broad in his views to be hemmed in, 
bound or circumscribed by any denomina- 
tional limits. He therefore belongs to no 
religious society, despite his Presbyterian 
ancestry. He is a member of Lew Dailey 
Post No. ;^;^. G. A. R., and was for many 
years its surgeon. While he never held and 
never could afford to hold a public office, he 
acknowledged his allegiance to the Republi- 
can party, believing that the policy ad- 
vocated by that party regarding govern- 
mental management the most conducive to 
the welfare of the American people. If, 
however, it transpired that a policy which 
he considered pernicious was advocated by 
that party, neither a jack-screw nor a derrick 
would be required to change him. He has 
always been a lover of life in any form and 
the useful domestic animals especially com- 
mend themselves to his favor. When the 
breeding of shorthorn cattle became the rage 
a number of years ago, he was one of the or- 
ganizers and for a number of years president 
of the Wells County Shorthorn Breeders' 
Association. It is now defunct, but it was 
a worthy movement and subserved a good 
purpose. He has a superbly improved farm 
of two hundred and twenty acres, six miles 
from the city. The barn alone on the prem- 
ises cost twenty-five hundred dollars. While 



never neglecting what is due from him, as 
a medical practitioner, to the general public, 
he is deeply interested in agriailture and 
stock raising. In all of the numerous re- 
lations he bears and has borne to the public, 
as citizen, soldier, physician, agriculturist 
and man, he has acquitted himself in a man- 
ner not only to merit and receive popular ap- 
probation, but is held in the highest esteem 
for a kindness and generosity that is inex- 
haustible and purely his own. 



HUGH D. STUDABAKER. 

The name of Studabaker is one which 
has been prominent in the annals of Wells 
county from the early pioneer era of its his- 
tory up to the present time, and of this fact 
numerous evidences are given within the 
pages of this publication, where will be 
found specific mention of various members 
(if the old and honored family. In the case 
at hand we have to do with the present in- 
amibent of the office of county clerk and 
one who is an able, representative young 
business man, commanding the high regard 
of the people of his native county, where he 
has passed practically his entire life. 

Hugh Dougherty Studabaker was born 
on a farm on the banks of the Wabash 
river, in Lancaster township. Wells county, 
Indiana, on the loth of September, 1869, 
being a son of Major Peter and Sarah 
(Morgan) Studabaker. Major Studabaker 
was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 26th 
day of February, 1833, being a son of Abra- 
ham and Elizabeth (Hardman) Studabaker. 
In 1847 the Major came to Wells county, 
and in 185 1 entered into partnership with 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



431 



his half brother, John Studabaker, in the 
dry goods business in Bkiffton. On the 
28th of October of the following year, was 
solemnized his marriage to Miss Sarah 
Morgan, a daughter of John Morgan, who 
came from Lancaster county, Ohio, and \\ho 
was extensively engaged in the milling busi- 
ness. In 1858 Major' Studabaker was elect- 
ed treasurer of Wells county, and was 
chosen as his own successor in i860. On 
the 15th of August, 1862, he responded to 
the call for volunteers to aid in suppressing 
the Rebellion, and was commissioned cap- 
tain of his company, while on the ist of June, 
1863, he received his commission as major. 
He enlisted as a member of Company B, 
One Hundred and First Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, with which he rendered most 
valiant service, continuing at the front un- 
til victory crowned the Union arms and par 
ticipating in the grand review in the city 
of Washington, in May. 1865, while on the 
' 24th of the succeeding month he was honor- 
ably discharged in Louisville, Kentucky, ar- 
ri\ing at his home on the 4th of the follow- 
ing July. In the battle of Kenesaw Moun- 
tain he received a severe wound in his left 
foot, and from the effects of this injury, 
which resulted in bone erysipelas, his death 
eventually occurred. He passed away on 
the 19th of May, 1888, at the home of his 
daughter, Mrs. Anna Thornburg. of Farm- 
land, Indiana. In 1866 he accepted a po- 
sition in the First National Bank of Bluff- 
ton, and two years later, in company with 
John Studabaker and Hugh Dougherty, in 
honor of the latter of whom the subject of 
this sketch was named, he became concerned 
in the organization and establishing of the 
Exchange Bank, and he continued to be ac- 
tively identified with this institution until 



his death. In 1874 he was elected to the 
office of county commissioner, and was re-, 
elected in 1876 and 1880. No man in the 
community held more uniform confidence 
and esteem, for he ordered his life on a high 
plane of rectitude and honor and had the 
kindliness and urbanity which ever make 
for the securing of warm and abiding friend- 
ships. His wife survived him by about a 
decade, passing away on the 24th of Octo- 
ber, 1899, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Anna Thornburg, in Bluffton. Mrs. Studa- 
baker was born on the 4th of September. 
1835, so that she was nearly sixty-four years 
of age at the time of her demise. Of this 
union were born four sons and two daugh- 
ters, the subject of this review having been 
the sixth in order of birth. Of the other 
children we incorporate the following brief 
record: George W., who married Olive 
Kemp, in 1876, is now a resident of Blufif- 
ton: James M., who married Emma Ervin, 
in 1881. is now residing in Colorado; David 
was drowned in the Wabash river, on the 
loth of June, 1868, at the age of eleven 
years : Anna E. married John H. Thorn- 
burg, in 1882, and they now reside in Bluff- 
ton : and Alice S. married Charles E. Lacey, 
in 1887, and they reside in Crawfords- 
ville, Indiana. 

Hugh D. Studabaker received his early 
educational discipline in the public schools 
of Bluffton, being graduated in the high 
school as a member of the class of 18S6, no- 
table as having been the largest class ever 
graduated in the high school, its member- 
ship numbering thirty-six, while the super- 
intendent at the time was Professor Phile- 
mon A. Allen, who is still an honored resi- 
dent of Bluffton. Mr. Studabaker was sev- 
enteen years old at the time of his gradu- 



432 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ation, and during his school days he con- 
tinued to reside on the home farm, near 
Bluffton, while from the age of eleven years 
until that of nineteen he incidentally con- 
ducted a milk business, supplying a repre- 
sentative line of patrons in the city. After 
the death of his father he went to the city of 
Chicago, where he was engaged in the basket 
business from December i, 1889, until the 
1st of the following June, being associated 
in this enterprise with his cousin, William 
Studabaker, and his brother James M. He 
then returned to Bluffton, and in November, 
1890, he here associated himself with Wil- 
liam A. Lipkey, under the firm name of Lip- 
key & Studabaker, and established himself 
in the meat market business, from which he 
withdrew in November, 1892, and became a 
stockholder in the North Furniture Com- 
pany, of Bluffton, simultaneously becoming 
actively identified with its operations in the 
manufacture of furniture. The enterprise, 
owing to the financial panic, was forced into 
the hands of a receiver in the latter part of 
the following year, entailing a loss of about 
two thousand dollars to Mr. Studabaker, 
while the other stockholders met with simi- 
lar relative losses. Thereafter the subject 
was again associated with Mr. Lipkey in the 
meat market business until March, 1895, 
when he turned his attention to the timber 
business, in which he became associated with 
Israel T. Allen, tmder the firm name of 
Allen & Studabaker. The firm furnished the 
timber utilized in the Indiana oil fields and 
continued until the depreciation in the prices 
of the local oil product, in 1896, when the 
venture proved no longer profitable, Indi- 
ana oil at that time being sold at as low a 
figure as forty cents a barrel. In the fall of 
1896 Mr. Studabaker entered into partner- 



ship with Forrest Cummins and engaged in 
the insurance business, under the firm name 
of Cummins & Studabaker, and he was thus 
placed until the summer of 1897. At the 
fall election of 1898 Mr. Studabaker was de- 
feated by Clem Hatfield for the office of 
county clerk, his opponent receiving a ma- 
jority of only two votes, and this result be- 
ing accomplished by extraordinary political 
exigencies, involved in general dissatisfac- 
tion with the long continued power of the 
Democratic party in Wells county and 
through popular clamor for an investigation 
of the county records. On the ist of Febru- 
ary, 1899, Mr. Studabaker engaged in the 
grocery business in the Bennett store, on 
Market street, but in August of the same 
year he was forced out of business by a fire 
which practically destroyed his entire stock 
of goods. In November following he again 
engaged in the meat market business with 
his former partner, Mr. Lipkey, and this as- 
sociation continued until December, 1900, 
when Mr. Lipkey's interests were purchased 
by the subject's brother, George W., and the 
latter continued to be actively identified with 
this enterprise until the 4th of August, 1902, 
when he withdrew from the firm. 

In the meanwhile, on the i8th of the pre- 
ceding January, Mr. Studabaker was re- 
nominated for county clerk, as candidate 
on the Democratic ticket, securing a plur- 
ality of one hundred and thirty votes in the 
nominating convention, while at the Novem- 
ber election he received a gratifying majori- 
ty over the Republican candidate, Samuel P. 
Roush, his plurality being one hundred and 
ninety votes. From this fact it will be seen 
that the political status of the county had 
again become practically normal and that 
the popular disaffection had been overcome. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



433 



Mr. Studabaker entered upon the active dis- 
charge of the duties of his office on the ist 
of January, 1902, and it is certain that his 
administration will be a careful and pains- 
taking one and one that will meet with popu- 
lar endorsement. Mr. Studabaker has ever 
been a staunch supporter of the cause of the 
Democratic party and has taken an active in- 
terest in local affairs of a public nature. 
Fraternally he is identified with the National 
L'nion, an insurance organization, is also a 
member of the Baptist church, while his 
wife holds membership with the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

In the city of Bluffton, on the 4th of Au- 
gust, 1 89 1, at the residence of Henry 
Thomas, on East Cherry street. Rev. 
J. H. Jackson, pastor of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, solemnized the 
marriage of Mr. Studabaker to Miss 
Mary Rebecca Cook, who was named 
in honor of Mrs. John Studabaker, a par- 
ticular friend of her parents. She was born 
in Blufifton on the 31st of March, 1870, be- 
ing a daughter of John Henry Louis and 
Eliza (Deaver) Cook, the former of whom 
was born on the 226 of February, 1817, while 
his death occurred in Bluffton, on the 2d of 
January, 1879. His wife, who was born at 
Deavertown, Ohio, on the ist of June, 1833, 
still survives and makes her home with her 
daughter, the wife of the subject. 

Mr. Cook was born in the town of Rin- 
teln, province of Hessen, Prussia, his father 
being a government prosecutor and a man 
of influence and prominence. The son was 
educated in the University of Leipsic, and 
was a silk merchant in the fatherland prior 
to coming to America, in 1850, being there- 
after engaged in mercantile business during 
the balance of his active life. Of his chil- 



dren three sons and two daughters are still 
living, namely : Dr. Luzern H., who is en- 
gaged in the practice of his profession in 
Bluffton ; Henry Douglass, who is a grocer in 
Bluffton ; Arthur L., who is engaged in the 
furniture business in the city of Chicago; 
Bertha, who is the wife of Prof. William A. 
Wirt, of the Bluffton public schools, and 
Mary R., the wife of the subject. Mr. and 
Mrs. Studabaker have three children, namely : 
Alden Koch, who was born July 31, 1892, at 
the old Studabaker homestead, in Lancaster 
township, near Bluffton; Mildred Eleanor, 
who was born in the same home, on the ist 
of February, 1894, and Hugh Dougherty, 
Jr.. who was born at the northeast corner of 
IMiller and Williams streets. Bluffton, on 
the 19th of September, 1896. 



JOHN HENRY DURR. 

The business of cultivating the soil is 
looked upon as a calling that may be em- 
braced by any one, and it is currentl}- be- 
lieved that no amount of brains, intelligence 
or skill is necessary to be a successful farmer 
— he need only to put the seed in the ground 
and nature does the rest. These views are en- 
tertained by people who have no conception of 
either the labor required or the experience 
and intelligence necessary to conduct the 
affairs of a farm successfully. Their view 
of the farmer is well expressed by the author 
of "The Man with the Hoe" in the poem of 
that title. Those who have followed agri- 
culture as their life vocation know better, 
and those who, in their youth, got their first 
lesson in industry in the woods, the clearing 
and the field are better posted. To be sue- 



434 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



cessful on the farm a man must have more 
industry, as much intelHgence and at the very 
least an equal amount of experience as is re- 
quired of men in other walks of life. 

There are few counties in Indiana pos- 
sessed of better' or more successful farmers 
than Wells county. The townships of Jeff- 
erson. Lancaster and Harrison are particu- 
larly well supplied with this class of farm- 
ers. Prominent among those of Lancaster 
township was John Henry Durr, deceased, 
who for more than fifty years lived in the 
same locality. He saw the region gradually 
change from wood and swamp to fertile 
fields and green pastures, and contributed 
his full share in time, labor and means, to- 
ward bringing about the important change. 

John Henry Durr was born in Lancaster 
township, Wells county, Indiana, February 
18,1851, and was a son of Jacob and Mildred 
Durr, who were among the early pioneers of 
^\'ells county. Upon the farm where he was 
born John Henry Durr spent the first twenty- 
six years of his life. Aside from the few brief 
months each year devoted to school, his en- 
tire time was occupied in the labor of the 
farm with liis father. His education was 
aljout the same as that of other boys of that 
time and locality. The few months spent in 
the school room each winter sufficed to give 
him an education that subserves every pur- 
pose. All of the common school branches 
were thoroughly mastered by him and with 
these as the key to the vast storehouse of 
learning, during his leisure hours he ab- 
sorbed an amount of information possessed 
by few persons in his position. 

On July 28, 1877, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Angeline Bowman, daughter 
of Gideon and Alvina Bowman, of Adams 
county, Indiana, and to this union were born 



five children, four of whom are living. 
Minnie and Carley (twins), were born Au- 
gust 20, 1878, the latter dying November i, 
1880; Nettie, born February 11, 1880; OHe, 
born May 23, 1882; John Willard, born 
August 22, 1885. The wife and mother. 
Angeline Bowman Durr, died May 26, 1890, 
at the early age of thirty-three years. 

At the time of his marriage John H. 
Durr and his brother Ed were each pre- 
sented with eighty acres of woodland by 
their father. Anticipating his marriage, 
John selected a nice building site on his 
tract, cleared it and erected a comfortable 
home to which to take his bride. Settling 
down to the realities of pioneer life, he be- 
gan clearing and improving his land with 
the result that within a very few }-ears he 
had a well improved farm. In 1881 he pur- 
chased an additional forty acres from his 
sister, Mrs. Patterson. It also was woods, 
but having now acquired taste for the sub- 
jugation of the forest, Mr. Durr lost no time 
in reducing it also to fertility and produc- 
tiveness. He owned, at the time of his 
death, one hundred and twenty acres of as 
fine land as Indiana could boast of, ninety- 
five acres of which were cleared, drained and 
fenced by his own hand and constitutes a 
farm, whose superior, acre for acre, cannot 
be found in Wells count}'. 

Politically Mr. Durr was a Democrat, 
well posted in the principles of his party and 
always firm in the advocacy thereof. He 
took a deep interest in the work of each cam- 
paign and always did much, personally and 
with his means, to advance the interests of 
the ticket. He was a genial, kind, good 
natured gentlemen, who loved his friends 
and never lost an opportunity of doing a 
kind turn even to a stranger. His death. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



435 



which occurred December 8, 1902, was 
mourned by his many friends, and was 
looked upon as the loss of one from their 
midst, whose life had been an example of all 
that was good and noble. 



JOHN E. STURGIS. 

The gentlemen to a brief review of 
whose life and characteristics the reader's 
attention is herewith directed is among the 
foremost business men of Blufifton and has 
by his enterprise and progressive methods 
contributed in a material way to the indus- 
trial and commercial advancement of the 
city and county. He has in the course of 
an honorable career been most successful in 
the business aflairs with which he has been 
identified, and is well deserving of mention 
in a book of this character. 

John E. Sturgis is a native of Ohio, ha\-- 
ing first seen the light of day in Wayne 
county, that state, on the 22d day of Alay, 
1844. His father, Thomas Sturgis, was 
born near Lough Neagh, county Armagh, 
Ireland, December 25, 1802, and was a son 
of Rev. William and Elizabeth (Gratz) 
Sturgis. In 18 12 William Sturgis and fami- 
ly emigrated to America, landing at New 
York city on the 25th day of June of that 
year. Shortly afterwards they removed to 
Pennsylvania and settled at Shippensburg, 
where the father died soon afterward, leav- 
ing a widow and eight small children to 
mourn his loss. Thomas Sturgis, the father 
of the subject, when about eighteen years of 
age. began learning the hatter's trade, which 
he completed and followed for a number of 
years. He was married in Pennsylvania, 



August 5, 1826, to Elizabeth Brasier, who 
was born at Chambersburg, that state, and 
was a daughter of Rev. Jacob Brasier, a 
United Brethren minister. In 1834 Thomas 
Sturgis and family moved to Dalton, Ohio, 
where he followed his trade until 1853, in 
which year he moved to Wells county, 
Indiana, and purchased a partially improved 
farm in Lancaster township. On this place 
he settled and was there engaged in farming 
until his death, which occurred March 24, 
1882. His demise was preceded but a short 
time by that bf his wife, hers occurring on 
February 5. 1882, after a happy wedded life 
of over fifty-five years. They left ten chil- 
dren, fifty-one grandchildren and five great- 
grandchildren. Both had lived long and 
useful Christian lives and were among the 
highly respected citizens of the county. Mr. 
Sturgis was a man of strong convictions 
and took great interest in the political issues 
of the day. He was a firm believer in the 
principles of the Democratic party and cast 
his first presidential ballot for Andrew 
Jackson in 1824. In 1840. during the ex- 
citing contest between Van Buren and Har- 
rison, rather than lose his vote, as was 
threatened, he, with his brother Joseph, 
walked twenty-five miles to New Philadel- 
phia the evening before the election, secured 
their papers and returned home the next 
morning prepared for business at the polls. 
He was the father of eleven children, of 
whom one died in infancy, the others all 
growing to maturity. They were all well 
educated and became useful and respected 
members of society. Of the ten children 
who gained their majority, brief mention is 
made as follows : Charlotte, deceased, was 
the wife of W T. White, of Blufifton; Wil- 
liam is a resident of Missouri; Joseph re- 



436 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



sides on the old homestead in Dalton, 
Wayne county, Ohio ; EHzabeth is the wife 
of John Whitaker and resides in Wells 
county ; Elmer Y. is a resident of Bluffton ; 
Lemuel D. also resides in Wells county; 
Catherine is the wife of Jonathan Markley 
and lives in this county ; Thomas J. is a suc- 
cessful dentist of Bluffton; John E. is the 
subject of this review and Mary is the wife 
of Andrew Shoemaker, of Geneva, Adams 
county, Indiana. 

John E. Sturgis came to Wells county 
with his parents, being at the time but nine 
years old, and has practically made this his 
home ever since. In 1861, when the somber 
cloud of war hung over the country and 
the President called for volunteers to assist 
in the suppression of the rebellion, young 
Sturgis, though but a little past seventeen 
vears of age, was among the first to tender 
his services to his country, enlisting in Octo- 
ber, 186 1, in Company H, Forty-seventh 
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, un- 
der Capt. S. J. Keller, of Bluffton, and 
Col. James R. Slack, of Huntington. This 
company was organized at Huntington and 
immediately went to Indianapolis, where, 
in December, 1861, it was sworn into ser- 
vice and soon afterward went to the front. 
They were first sent to Camp Wickliff, 
Kentucky, and their first engagement of 
any note was at Island No. 10, on the Mis- 
souri river. Mr. Sturgis had a part in all 
the engagements in which his regiment par- 
ticipated, and was neither sick, wounded 
nor taken prisoner, being always ready for 
duty. They who are familiar with the his- 
torv of the Rebellion know what the Forty- 
seventh Indiana went through and can see 
readily that young Sturgis performed his 
full share in the defense of his country's flag 



in her hour of peril. He was fearless and 
brave and served gallantly until the close of 
the struggle, receiving an honorable dis- 
charge in December, 1865. 

Upon quitting the army Mr. Sturgis re- 
turned to Wells county and in the following 
spring he entered the Eastman Business Col- 
lege, at Chicago, where he pursued the regu- 
lar course, after which he again returned to 
Bluffton. In 1867 he went to Mendon, Mer- 
cer county, Ohio, and, in company with Dr. 
Daniel B. Roether, engaged in the drug busi- 
ness. In October of the same year he re- 
turned to Bluffton and was married, the lady 
of his choice being Miss Emeline E. Sander- 
son, who was born at Carlisle, Ohio, June 
25. 1847, the daughter of Lemuel and Lu- 
cinda (Kinert) Sanderson. In 1868 Mr. 
Sturgis disposed of his drug business at 
Mendon, Ohio, and removed to Bluffton, 
where he engaged as clerk in the drug store 
of Stockton & Johnson, with whom he re- 
mained until 1872, in which year he 
opened up a drug store on his own account 
in Bluffton, conducting this successfully un- 
til 1886, at which time he was elected to the 
position of treasurer of Wells county. Dis- 
posing of his business, he took charge of the 
office, the duties of which he faithfully and 
efficiently performed for four years. At the 
close of his term of office, Mr. Sturgis again 
established himself in the drug business, in 
which he has since continued. He also 
served as city treasurer of Bluffton from 
1877 to 1885, filling this position also with 
credit to himself and to the satisfaction of 
his constituents. In his political views Mr. 
Sturgis is a staunch Democrat and takes an 
active interest in the success of his party. 
In matters religious he and his wife sub- 
scribe to the Presbyterian faith, to the sup- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



437 



port of which he contributes liberally of his 
means and in the local congregation of which 
he is one of the trustees. He is also a worthy 
member of Lodge No. 147, I. O. O. F., 
Bluffton. 

To Mr. and Airs. Sturgis have been born 
three children, Nina L., Estella E. and Ruby. 
Nina is unmarried and still makes her 
home under the parental roof ; Estella is the 
wife of AI. A. Stout, a prominent business 
man of Bluffton, and Ruby married Dr. 
Homer Robinson, one of Bluffton's most 
skilled and successful dentists. The Sturgis 
family was established in Wells county many 
years ago and has always been looked upon 
as one of the most enterprising and respected 
families in the county. The members of the 
family may look back with just pride to their 
ancestors, knowing that thus far no member 
of the family has been connected with any 
dishonorable transaction by which the family 
'scutcheon might be marred. 



JOHN AIcAFEE. 

This native-born and respected farmer of 
Rock Creek township. Wells county, Indi- 
ana, was born January 6. 1854, and is a son 
of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lesh) McAfee, 
of whom mention of greater length will be 
found on other pages of this volume. He 
was educated in the district school of his 
neighborhood, which he attended until about 
seventeen years of age, and then began work- 
ing on a farm by the month, the father ab- 
sorbing whatever compensation was granted 
to the son. At the age of twenty-one years, 
John McAfee was presented with a horse, 
as a capital with which to begin his business 



career in life, and, as the sequel will show, he 
did not misapply this small means toward 
advancing his future progress. In 1875 ^^ 
took a third interest in a saw-mill with his 
father and George Riley, but after a few 
months the father and son bought out the 
interest of Mr. Riley in this mill and for 
some time ran it on their mutual account. 
John, Jacob and Peter McAfee then bought 
the mill and conducted it for thirteen years, 
buying and cutting their timber, taking such 
contracts for custom sawing as they could 
secure, and disposing of their own outfit at 
a very fair profit. The father and son John 
each owned a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre 
tract of wooded land, valued at five thousand 
dollars per tract; but John was rather im- 
provident at that time and gave his obliga- 
tions for his investment, all of which he 
promptly met as they fell due. 

John McAfee next moved upon his pres- 
ent farm in section 17, Rock Creek township, 
on rural route No. 3 froin Bluffton, the 
greater part being then in the forest, but this 
portion he has since cleared up and improved 
and added to it until he owned four hundred 
and twenty acres. He later disposed of 
eighty, acres, so that he now owns a trifle 
less than three hundred and forty acres, 
which is valued at twent}-seven thou- 
sand dollars. He deals largely in hogs, 
but is also a farmer who looks well 
to what pays him best, and figures on about 
two thousand dollars net profit per an- 
num from his farm produce, most of which 
he invests in additional land. He is a scien- 
tific agriculturist and keeps himself well 
posted by reading the best farming journals. 
He also is quite regular in his attendance at 
farmers' institutes and is a good listener, but 
not an orator. He has never wandered far 



438 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



from the spot where he was born and now 
lives within a mile of his birth place, of 
which he in fact owns a part. 

March 31, 1877, John iMcAfee was 
united in marriage with Miss Isabella Light, 
who was born in Jackson township, Wells 
county, November 12, 1856, and is a daugh- 
ter of Isaac W. and Phebe (Pouless) Light. 
The father was called away, however, and 
the mother became the wife of George 
Spraks. The marriage of John McAfee to 
Isabella Light has been crowned with four 
children, viz : Lillie, born August 25, 1878, 
who is now the wife of Charles W. Decker, 
a farmer in Rock Creek township; Earnest, 
born March 28, 1882, still unmarried; Win- 
nie, born August 21, 1885, is assisting in 
caring for the household; John, born June 
12, 1887, is attending the district school. 

Mr. and Mrs. AIcAfee are members of 
St. Paul Lutheran church of Rock Creek 
township, of which Mr. McAfee is a deacon. 
He has alwa}'s been a liberal supporter of 
this church financially, and on its being re- 
built contributed very freely to the building 
fund. In his political views he is in sympa- 
thy with the Democratic party, but has never 
felt an)- ambition as to filling public office. 
Mr. and Mrs. McAfee are both very pleasant 
and afifable, and their advice upon farming 
and many other subjects is freely sought 
by their neighbors, far and near, as it can be 
implicitly relied upon as being honest and 
sincere. 

Samuel McAfee, the father of the gen- 
tleman whose name opens this record, and 
who now has his residence in Liberty town- 
ship, Wells county, was one of the patriots 
who gallantly went to the front during the 
dire need of the nation for defenders at the 
time of the Civil war. August 20, 1862, he 



enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and 
First Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Cap- 
tain Wilson, and took part, among others, 
in the following named serious engagements : 
Perrysville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge 
and Chattanooga ; he was also all through the 
Atlanta campaign and at the siege and fall 
of that fated city ; was at the battle of Peach 
Tree Creek, Georgia; Bentonville, North 
Carolina; was present at the surrender of 
the rebel general, Johnston, and was honor- 
ably discharged at the close of the war at 
Louisville, Kentucky. 

Elizabeth (Lesh) McAfee was a native 
of Berks county, Pennsylvania, was married 
to Samuel McAfee in 185 1, and died at her 
home in Rock Creek township in September, 
1894, truly honored by all who knew her. 



J. H. HOLCOMB, ^I. D. 

This eminent and still rising young phy- 
sician and surgeon of Rock Creek township. 
Wells county, Indiana, is a native of Yadkin 
county. North Carolina, and was born on the 
banks of the Yadkin river, September 2, 
1867, a son of John D. and Sarah A. Hol- 
comb. The Holcomb family originated in 
Ireland and toward the close of the sixteenth 
century several of its members came to 
America and settled in North Carolina and 
from one of these colonists Dr. Holcomb, of 
this sketch, is a lineal descendant. The em- 
Ijryo physician passed his young days amid 
the hills and dales of the northwestern part 
of the Old North state in assisting his father 
on the homestead during the summer months 
and in attending school during the winter 
when the weather was too inclement for 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



439 



farm work. At the age of sixteen he was 
graduated from the common school and next 
attended ■ tlie liigh school for two years. 
After his graduation from the latter he 
taught school for tw,o years, and then 
entered the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, took a 
full course as a student of medicine, and was 
graduated from that famous institution in 
the spring of 1892. He commenced the ac- 
tive practice of his profession in his native 
state, where he met with flattering success, 
his abilities being at once recognized, and 
continued to retain his patrons until he 
sought what he considered to be a broader 
and more remunerati\'e field in W'ells comity, 
Lidina, coming hither in 1894. On reaching 
Wells county. Dr. Holcomb selected Barber's 
JNlill as his place of residence and practice, 
and in the latter has met with a success that 
in some respects may be termed phenomenal. 
He has not only been most fortunate in his 
treatment of his numerous patients, but 
through his affability and genial disposition 
has drawn to himself a host of sincere per- 
sonal friends. 

Dr. J. Holcomb was united in marriage 
in 1889 with INIiss Charity A. Swain, a na- 
tive of North Carolina and a lady of good 
family and well educated. To this happy 
union have been born two children, viz: 
Bertha, in ]\Iay, 1890, and Effie May, in 
]\Iarch, 1892. The parents are members of 
the Baptist church at Liberty Center, and the 
Doctor is a member of Bluff ton Lodge No. 
145, F. & A. M., and is likewise a Royal 
Arch Alason. He is also a member of the 
Red Men's lodge at Barber's Mill, in which 
he has filled all the offices and which he has 
represented in the grand lodge. Dr. Holcomb 
is one of the substantial Democrats of Rock 



Creek township and Barber's Mill, but 
while he is sincere in his political convictions 
he takes little active interest in his party's 
work, outside of the exercise of his fran- 
chise. He is very popular personally and 
is widely known in Rock Creek township, 
as well as in Bluffton and throughout the 
country, to nearly all parts of which his prac- 
tice has extended. The Doctor is a mem- 
ber of the Wells County Medical Association 
and is medical examiner for the State Life 
Insurance Company and the Meridian Life 
& Trust Company of Indianapolis, and also 
for the Escanaba (Iowa) Life Insurance 
Company. 

Because of his extensive private prac- 
tice and his official professional duties, the 
Doctor's time is pretty well filled in, but he 
finds opportunity to pass many felicitous 
hours in the domestic circle, to which he is 
warmly attached, being an affectionate hus- 
band and an indulgent father. While the 
fortunate and successful professional man in 
many instances attains an enviable reputa- 
tion through fortuitous circumstances and 
empirical practices, it is the observant and re- 
flective practitioner, who mentally digests 
every clinical and even surgical case that 
comes within his observation or cognizance. 
He weighs all symptoms, which are often de- 
ceiving, diagnoses each case as it develops 
itself, and invariably reaches a conclusion 
that fully justifies his treatment of his pa- 
tient, irrespective of the practice of his sci- 
entific brethren who have had experience in 
similar cases in past time. While as a gen- 
eral rule, the combined experience of many 
exceeds that of a few, the discriminating 
judgment of such a man as Dr. Holcomb 
will at times strike facts that prove to be 
of wonderful influence in the profession, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



otherwise wliy liave Eustace. Harve}' and 
Tenner become immortal ? 



WILLIAM SHEETS. 

\Miile a gentleman of most unassuming- 
habits, William Sheets is one of the very 
popular residents of Rock Creek township, 
Wells county, Indiana, where he owns three 
hundred and twenty-eight acres of good 
farming land, now worth at least twenty 
thousand dollars. He was born in Hunt- 
ington county, Indiana, August 4, 1848, is 
a son of John and Julia A. (Wyatt) 
Sheets, and is now in the prime of life. 

John Sheets, the father of William 
Sheets, was a native of Pennsylvania, 
whence he went to Ohio, and a few years 
later came to Indiana and entered a tract of 
land, in 1S36, in Rock Creek township. 
Huntington county, of which he took posses- 
sion in 1838. On this farm he lived for a 
number of years and then removed to Hunt- 
ington, where he resided thirteen years, then 
returned to his farm and passed the remain- 
der of his life at the home of his daughter, 
Mrs. Mary C. Lea veil, dying February 17, 
1902. John Sheets was a remarkably en- 
terprising man and through his own indus- 
try had acquired at the time of his death 
three hundred and twenty acres of good 
land, all in Huntington county, Indiana. 

As a matter of retrospect, it may be 
stated that John Sheets was twice married. 
His first marriage took place July 12, 1838, 
and the second July 12, 1884, there being a 
space of forty-six years between the two 
marriage ceremonies. To the second mar- 
riage no children have lieen born, but to the 



first there were six, who were named and 
are now conditioned in life as follows : 
Frederick, residing in Salamonie township, 
Huntington county, Indiana; Sarah, who 
is married to Eli McCallister; Margaret 
married William Cariger, and is now de- 
ceased ; W^illiam is the subject of this rec- 
ord; ^lar}- C, wife of Frank Leavell, of 
Rock Creek township, Huntington county, 
and John M., deceased. 

William Sheets, of this sketch, was 
reared on his father's farm in Huntington 
count}-, received a very good education in 
the district schools and the Roanoke Semi- 
nary, and for some time taught school in 
Huntington county. On May 9, 1872, he 
married Miss Malissa J. Thompson, who 
was born in Huntington county, Indiana, 
December 29, 1854, and is a daughter of 
George S. and Lydia (Helton) Thompson, 
who were among the early pioneers of Hunt- 
ington county. To Mr. Sheets' union with 
Miss Thompson seven children have been 
born, namely : Mary A., now the wife of 
John O. Redding ; Minnie K., who was mar- 
ried to Irwin Guldin, but who, with her 
husband, is now deceased; Charles F., who 
is still unmarried; Stella married Oliver B. 
McAfee and resides in Wells county; Julia, 
Bessie and Josie are still single and reside 
at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sheets are also rear- 
ing a grandchild. Charley J. Guldin. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sheets are members of the Dis- 
ciples' church at Buckeye. Huntington 
county, to the support of which they are 
most liberal contributors and in the work of 
which they are among the most active par- 
takers. In politics Mr. Sheets is decidedly 
a Democrat and is a hard worker for his 
party in all its operations in Rock Creek 
township. He has served as a member of 



\\^ELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



the advisory board, but has never sought 
an office for the sake of honor or emolu- 
ment. He is, nevertheless, very popular as 
a citizen and a party man, and but few resi- 
dents of Rock Creek township are held in 
higher esteem by the general public than is 
the subject. 



LEWIS GESLER. 

As an instance of the unvarying success 
which follows intelligent industry, that of 
Lewis Gesler, of Rock Creek township, 
A\'ells county, Indiana, is quite notable, as 
the reader will glean from the facts w'hich 
are detailed in the following paragraphs. 
The parents of the subject were of German 
descent. Lewis Gesler was born October 
30, 185 1, but the father was summoned to 
another world when the son was about six 
years old. The mother, -being in strait- 
ened circumstances, placed the lad out at 
work when he was about twelve years of 
age, but continued to provide him with 
clothing and other necessaries of minor 
character, retaining for her own use his 
small earnings. At the age of sixteen 
years Lewis Gesler came to Wells county, 
Indiana, and found employment with Henry 
Edris, for whom he worked two years at 
fourteen dollars per month, and in this time 
saved considerable money. He continued to 
work out by the month for other parties 
until he had acquired five hundred dollars, 
which he invested in eighty acres of his 
present farm in Rock Creek township, al- 
though he was obliged to go in debt to some 
extent. He worked for Wierly Lamb three 
years, then bought land until he owned at 
one time two hundred acres, all of which he 



paid for out of his own earnings with the 
exception of five hundred dollars received 
from home. 

In March, 1876, Lewis Gesler married 
Miss Calista Johnson, daughter of Jonas 
Johnson, and to this happy union four chil- 
dren have added to the felicity of the home 
of the parents,' and are named, in order of 
birth, as follows: Homer C, who had his 
nativit}' in 1879, is still unmarried and 
makes his residence with his parents, as do 
the younger three, Eva I., Wilna and Virgil. 
]\Ir. Gesler has been one of the most enter- 
prising men of his township, and from 
almost impecuniousneSs has raised himself 
to affluence, being now worth at least twelve 
thousand dollars in land alone. He and wife 
have led a most happy life since marriage 
and are honored and beloved wherever 
known. 

Jonas Johnson, the father of Mrs. Lewis 
Gesler, deserves especial mention in this 
connection as being one of the oldest resi- 
dents of Rock Creek township. He was 
born in Wayne county, Indiana, October 14, 
1825, and is a son of Solomon and Sarah 
(Sanders) Johnson, who came from North 
Carolina, where the family had lived for 
generations, and, as was customary at the 
time, were slaveholders. The Johnson fam- 
ily reached Indiana prior to 1821, about 
three or four years after the state had been 
admitted to the union, and lived in ^^'ayne 
county about five years. They then removed 
to Delaware county, where they resided un- 
til the fall of 1835, when they came to Indi- 
ana and located where Montpelier now 
stands in Blackford county. They thence 
came to Wells county, at a time when there 
were no roads, they being obliged to cut their 
way through the woods in order to reach 



442 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tlieir destination. The previous spring, 
however, the father of the family hjid visit- 
ed Wells county and had entered one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of wild land across 
the road from the place on which his son 
Jonas now lives; at that time Jacob Miller 
and David Snyder were the only residents 
'of the neighborhood, as well as of the town- 
ship. On coming here, Mr. Johnson fir.«t 
put up a temporary shanty and shortly after 
built a log cabin and cultivated a patch of 
ground. He throve and finally bought one 
hundred and sixty acres of wild land in 
Salamonie township, Huntington county, 
which he and his sons cleared up and con- 
verted into a fine farm, but later sold. Mr. 
Johnson became one of Wells county's most 
prominent and influential citizens. A 
Democrat in politics, he served on the first 
board of county commissioners, which was 
composed of David Bennett, James Scott 
and himself, after whom three streets in 
Blufifton have been named, Johnson street 
running north and south past the jail and 
engine house. 

Mr. Johnson was the father of twelve 
children, of whom five are still living, name- 
ly : Isabella, wife of John Cook, of Barber's 
Mills; Ermina, wife of George Strother, of 
Huntington; Sarah, wife of John Haggert, 
of southern Missouri; Henry ^M., of Okla- 
homa, and Jonas. 

Jonas Johnson was a lad of but nine 
years when brought b}- his parents to W'ells 
county, Indiana, of which county he has 
ever since been a resident. When twenty- 
one years of age he rented the home farm for 
a few years, and in 1849 married Miss 
L^rania Barber, daughter of Hallette Barber, 
after whom Barber's Mills \\ere named, as he 
had the first grist and saw-mill at this place. 



having come from Darke county, Ohio. Mr. 
Johnson was poor and for three years rented 
a farm and then his father-in-law's mill for 
seven years, after which he bought the 
eighty-acre farm on which he now resides. 
Here he erected a two-room house in the 
woods, which frame has been replaced by a 
modern and commodious dwelling. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born 
five children, namely ; Levetta, now the wife 
of James Knudson ; Deliscus, unmarried and 
living in Oregon; Glessner, who lives on 
the old farm; Calista, wife of Lewis Ges- 
ler, and Norah, wife of Adam Korn. Mr. 
Johnson was among the first members of the 
Seventh Day Adventist congregation of his 
township, was a Granger, and in politics 
was a Democrat until 1875, when he be- 
came independent, and for the past few years 
has abstained altogether from voting. It is 
now sixty-seven years since Mr. Johnson 
came to Wells county, and it may well be 
conceded that no resident is more sincerely 
honored. 



WILLIA^I HAIFLICH. 

The gentleman whose name opens this 
biographical notice is a member of one of 
the oldest settled families of Rock Creek 
township, Wells county, Indiana, being a 
son of Isaac and Catherine (Fletcher) 
Haiflich, but was born in Richland county, 
Ohio, April 12, 1837. The paternal grand- 
father as well as the parents of William 
Haiflich were natives &'f the Buckeye state. 
The Fletcher family came from Fennsyl- 
vania and early settled in Richland county, 
Ohio, also, and were agriculturists of the 
better class. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



443 



Isaac Haiflicli, after marriage, rented a 
farm in Ohio, on which he resided until 
about 1848 or '49, when he came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and settled in Rock Creek 
township, there being at that time but two 
houses in Murray and one house in Markle, 
the intervening distance between the two 
villages containing a solitary farm, that 
owned by Jacob Miller, but now occupied 
by William Coover. Isaac Haiflich here 
entered one hundred and sixty acres of wild 
woodland, which he lived upon and cleared 
up and developed it into one of the best 
farms in the township. In politics Mr. 
Haiflich was one of the leading Democrats 
of Rock Creek township, and his religious 
faith was that of the German Baptist 
church. He had led a pure and industrious 
life and through his personal labors acquired 
a fortune of eight thousand dollars. To 
Isaac Haiflich and Catherine (Fletcher) 
Haiflich thei-e was born the large family of 
twelve children, of whom there are five still 
living. 

\\'illiam Haiflich was reared in the 
woods of Rock Creek township, and was 
early inured to hard work, which has re- 
dounded eventually to his pecuniary benefit, 
as well as to his physical and mental de- 
velopment. Whatever may be said of the 
malarial conditions of the atmosphere in cer- 
tain portions of the state of Indiana, it may 
safely be said that Rock Creek township is 
blessed with an invigorating circumambient 
belt of ozone, or oxygen, very conducive to 
health and longevity, and under these favor- 
able circumstances Mr. Haiflich developed 
into the prominent and influential gentle- 
man he now is. 

As the early services of Air. Haiflich 
were called into requisition in clearing up 



the home farm, he had but few opportunities 
of attending school, yet the time he was per- 
mitted to devote to this purpose was not 
abused and he succeeded in acquiring an 
education adequate for all practical pur- 
poses. He has done as much work, in -all 
probability, in making Rock Creek township 
the paradise it now is as any man of his age 
within its boundaries. He managed the 
home place after lea^'ing school until he 
had attained his majority and at the age of 
twenty-two found himself with a wife and 
forty dollars in cash, with which to start in 
business as a renter of his father-in-law's 
farm. 

Mr. Haiflich was married, March 3, 
1859, to Miss Sarah E. Sparks, daughter of 
Aaron and Huldah Sparks. She was born 
in Wells county, Indiana, February 14, 
1843. To Mr. and ]\Irs. Haiflich have been 
born eight children, of whom six still sur- 
vive and are named as follows : Eli C, 
Almeda Ann, William A., Samuel H., 
Charles E. and Rosetta. 

After Mr. Haiflich's marriage he settled 
on the Sparks homestead, which he subse- 
quently purchased, and on which he resided 
until moving to his present farm in Novem- 
ber, 1897. j\lr. Haiflich owns at present 
three hundred and twenty acres of good, 
well improved land and is considered one of 
the well-to-do and substantial farmers of 
Wells county. In 1864 he responded to his 
country's call to arms and enlisted in Com- 
pany E, Twelfth Regiment Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry. He took part in several bat- 
tles, served nine months, and was then hon- 
orably discharged, being now the recipient 
of a pension of twelve dollars per month. 

The Haiflich family are meml^ers of the 
]\Iethodist Episcopal church at Sparks 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Chapel, of whicli Mr. Haiflich has been a 
trustee for several years. He has served as 
class leader and also as Sunday school su- 
perintendent. In his political afifiliations he 
is a Democrat, but although he is a faithful 
worker in his party's interests he has never 
sought an office. Mr. and Mrs. Haiflich, as 
may well be inferred, are among the most 
highly respected residents of Rock Creek 
township, and it may be a gratification to the 
reader to refer to the biography of Eli Hai- 
flich, to be found on another page of this 
volume, for further information concerning 
this old-time familv. 



JACOB McAfee. 

One of the most extensive stock raisers 
and farmers of Rock Creek township, Wells 
county, Indiana, is Jacob McAfee, a native 
of this township, born February 26, 185 1, 
and a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lesh) 
McAfee. The McAfee family is of Irish 
origin and the American branch from which 
Jacob McAfee descended were early settlers 
in Virginia, where Samuel McAfee, father 
of Jacob, was born and reared, though he 
subsequently settled in Pennsylvania. Subse- 
quently both the McAfee and Lesh families 
came to Indiana and located in Rock Creek 
township. Wells county, where Samuel Mc- 
Afee spent the greater part of his life after 
moving to the county, though in later years 
he lived in Liberty township. The family 
of Samuel and Elizabeth McAfee comprised 
five sons and three daughters, of whom six 
still survive, viz : Jacob, John, Peter, Cath- 
erine, wife of Chester Scotton. Prescilla, 
wife of James Gordon, and Hattie, married 
to William D. Gordon. 



Jacob McAfee was reared to agricultural 
pursuits on the farm on which he had his 
nativity, and received a very good common 
school education. At the age of twenty-two 
he was first married, selecting for his help- 
mate Miss Jane Logan, daughter of the late 
John Logan, and to this union was born one 
child, Mollie, a resident of Toledo, Ohio. 
Mrs. Jane ( Logan) McAfee was called 
away soon after the birth of her child, and 
Jacob McAfee in due course of time mar- 
ried Miss Amanda A. Lamm, daughter of 
Waverly Lamm, of Lancaster township, 
and this marriage has been crownetl by the 
birth of five boys and three girls, of whom 
five are still living, and all single. 

At the age of twenty-one years Jacob 
McAfee was a poor young man as far as 
this world's substantialities were concerned. 
But he was possessed of robust health, a 
clear and comprehensive intellect and an in- 
domitable spirit of enterprise, united with 
indefatigable industry. He first found a 
means of earning money b}- working out by 
the job at ditching, chopping and clearing, 
from which labor he realized about three 
hundred dollars, of which amount he was 
the possessor at the time of his first venture 
on the sea of matrimony. For two years 
after marriage Mr. McAfee engaged in 
farming, a pursuit to which he had been well 
trained, and next went into the saw-mill 
business, having by this time acc|uired a 
capital of seven hundred dollars. This mill, 
known as the McAfee Brothers' mill, was 
located near Rock Creek Center, in Wells 
county, and here Mr. McAfee did custom 
work, and also bought, cut and sold lum- 
ber for thirteen years, at the close of which 
period he was worth six thousand dollars 
and the owner of one hundred and forty 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



acres of good land, to which he has since 
added one hundred and eighty acres, and is 
now worth twenty-four thousand dollars. 
Mr. McAfee has also been largely engaged 
in stock raising, in which he has been very 
successful, as he has been, indeed, in all his 
undertakings, being what is usually known 
as a "hustler" and naturally a shrewd busi- 
ness man. 

In politics Mr. McAfee is one of the re- 
liable Democrats of Rock Creek township 
and is active in his support of his party, but 
has never sought to advance his personal in- 
terests by aspiring to public office. Mrs. 
^McAfee is a member of the German Re- 
formed church, to the support of which both 
she and her husband are liberal contribu- 
tors. .\s the reader will naturally infer 
from the fact that Mr. and Mrs. McAfee 
are both natives of Wells county, the}- are 
widely and favorably known, and their 
upright walk through life has augmented 
the great respect in which they are held 
throughout the community in which they 
have their residence. 



JACOB LESH. 

Jacob Lesh is a native of Pennsylvania 
and was born in Berks county, September 
2^. 1835, but has lived in Wells county, 
Indiana, since he was thirteen years old, 
when he was brought hither by his parents^ 

The Lesh family is of German origin, 
but the ancestors of the family from which 
the gentleman whose name opens this sketch 
descends, were among the early settlers of 
the Keystone state. It may be added, as a 
matter of honor to the Lesh family, that the 



grandfather of Jacob Lesh, Peter Lesh, 
was a participant in the war of the 
American Revolution. John Lesh, the 
father of the subject, was born in 
Berks county, Pennsylvania, in the year 
iSoo. He married Miss Mary Suavely, 
who was a native of Lebanon county, the 
same state. She bore him six children, 
namely : Elizabeth, John, Jacob, Peter, 
Jonas and Daniel, twins, all of whom are 
now deceased except the subject. The 
mother of this family died when the subject 
was a small boy, and the father subsequently 
married Harriet McAfee, who bore him 
eight children, viz : Sarah, Catherine, de- 
ceased: Prescilla, deceased; Samuel, deceas- 
ed; James, Susan, Matilda and George W. 
After his father's death, John Lesh bought 
the old homestead, which he subsequently 
sold, and in 1848 moved to Indiana. He 
came b}- wagon, and was twenty-one days 
on the road, finally reaching L'nion City, 
whence he came to Rock Creek township. 
Wells county. Here he settled on eighty 
acres of land which he had purchased the 
year previous for nine hundred dollars and 
on which was a hewed-log house. Thirty 
acres had been placed under cultivation, and 
it was on this farm that he passed the re- 
mainder of his life, dying in 1864, in the 
faith of the Lutheran church. He was a 
Democrat in politics and always took an ac- 
tive interest in the success of his party, 
though never aspiring to public office. He 
was an honest, enterprising and hard work- 
ing man, and was highly respected by all 
who knew him. 

Jacob Lesh was educated in the district 
schools of Wells county and assisted on the 
home farm until twenty-one years old. He 
then worked at the carpenter's trade, which 



446 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



he thoroughly learned. Later he purchased 
a threshing machine, and still later bought 
eighty acres of land, the farm on which he 
now resides. 

At the age of t\venty-fi\'e years, Jacob 
Lesh married Miss Mary A. Gregg, a sis- 
ter of the late W. H. Gregg, of whom men- 
tion is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. 
Lesh, at his marriage, erected a small house, 
in which there was born to him one daugh- 
ter, Mary L., now the wife of A. J. Miller, 
and in which Mrs. Lesh died. The second 
marriage of Mr. Lesh took place November 
9, 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, a daugh- 
ter of Martin and Lydia A. (Houtz) Gil- 
bert, and who was born in Rock Creek 
township. Wells county, Indiana, October 6, 
1832. To this union have been born six 
children, namely: Charles E.. born April 3, 
1875, but now deceased: George L., born 
August 8, 1877, is married to Clara Far- 
ling and is farming in Rock Creek town- 
ship; Fred C, born June 22, 188 1, received 
his preliminary education in the district 
schools and was subsequently graduated 
from the Northern Indiana Normal School 
and Business College at Valparaiso : Henry 
A., who was born March 29, 1884, was 
graduated from the common schools in 
1901, and is pow a teacher in Chester town- 
ship; Maggie C. was born September 29, 
1887, and Jessie Esther, July 5, 1893. ^^s. 
Lesh is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran 
church in Rock Creek township, and in poli- 
tics Mr. Lesh is a Democrat. No family is 
more highly respected than that of Mr. and 
Mrs. Lesh, and if an upright and useful life 
entitles them to the high regard in which 
they are held, it may truthfully be said that 
no family is better entitled to it. Such peo- 
ple are a credit to any community. 



ANDREW J. MILLER. 

This well known business man, farmer 
and ex-assessor, whose residence is in Rock 
Creek township. Wells county, Indiana, was 
born in this township, June 8, 1859, a son 
of Isaac and Mary A. ( Bachtol ) Miller, who 
came from Stark county, Ohio, but whose 
parents came from Pennsylvania and were 
of German descent. Isaac Miller was born, 
reared and educated in Ohio, and married, 
about 1850, in Stark county, the same state. 
He first came to Wells county, Indiana, in 
1853, ^"d purchased land, but returned to 
Ohio, where he resided a short time, and 
then moved his family out, settling on the 
land which he had purchased during his 
previous visit. In politics Isaac Miller was 
a Democrat and was a justice of the peace for 
several years. He cleared up his farm and 
made all the improvements, which are still 
standing, and here he and his wife passed 
the remainder of their lives and died in the 
faith of the Lutheran church. To them 
were born nine children, in the following or- 
der : David H., who resides in Markle, 
Huntington county, Indiana; Helen J., wife 
of W. H. Herron, of Wells county; Mary 
E., deceased; Andrew J., the subject of this 
sketch; Uriah, who makes his home with 
Andrew J.; Charles E., of Rock Creek 
township; Elmer I., a resident of Hunting- 
ton, Indiana; Alice L., wife of Sherman 
Johnson, a resident of Grant county, and 
Cora F., deceased. 

Andrew J. Miller was a child of but three 
years when his parents settled on the farm 
on which he now resides. He was educated 
in the district school and reared on the 
homestead, which he assisted in cultivating 
until he was nineteen years old. At the age 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



447 



of twenty-two he engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness with J. H. Preskey, their saw-mill 
being located three miles east of Markle, 
Indiana. This partnership business contin- 
ued eight years, and realized them quite a 
handsome profit. Mr. Miller first rented 
the old homestead of eighty acres in the fall 
of 189 1, but later on purchased it. 

Andrew J . Miller was united in mar- 
riage, November i, 1883, with Miss Luella 
M. Lesh, a daughter of Jacob Lesh, of Rock 
Creek township, by his first wife, and who 
was educated in the district and Bluffton 
schools. The marriage of Andrew J. Mil- 
ler and Luella M. Lesh has been crowned 
with five children, namely : Herman L., 
born August 22, 1884, and now in his sen- 
ior year in the common school ; Lizzie, born 
August 20, 1886; Edna E., born February 
15, 1889; Vera, born November 17, 1892, 
and Roy J., born November 18, 1901. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the 
Lutheran church at Horeb, to the main- 
tenance of which they liberally contribute 
and otherwise aid, Mr. ^Miller having offi- 
ciated as elder for many years, and also as 
superintendent of the Sunday school. Fra- 
ternally Mr. Miller is a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and is re- 
cording secretary of his lodge ; in politics he 
is one of the leading Democrats of Rock 
Creek township and Wells county. In 1894 
he was elected tow^nship assessor and served 
with credit to himself and to the entire sat- 
isfaction of his party and his fellow citizens 
until 1900. He has also served as township 
committeeman for years, and likewise as 
delegate to several important Democratic 
conventions. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are 
among the prominent and influential resi- 
dents of Rock Creek township, and Mr. Mil- 



ler is honored as a public-spirited citizen, 
read}- at all times to aid with his advice and 
means every project desgned for the in- 
crease of the happiness and comfort of the 
community. He has recently been selected 
and served as a juror in the United States 
federal court for this district at Fort Wavne. 



JONATHAN J. MARKLEY. 

Each business or calling, if honorable, 
has its place in human existence, consti- 
tuting a part of the plan whereby life's 
methods are pursued and man reaches his 
ultimate destiny. Emerson said that "All 
are needed by each one." And that is as 
true in one avenue of life's activities as in 
another. However, the importance of a busi- 
ness or profession is in a very large meas- 
ure determined by its beneficence or use- 
fulness. So dependent is man upon his fel- 
low men that the worth of each individual 
is largely reckoned by what he has done for 
humanity. There is no class to whom great- 
er gratitude is due than to those self-sacri- 
ficing, sympathetic, noble-minded men 
whose life work has been the elevation of 
their fellow men to a higher conception of 
God, their dut_\ to liim and their duty to 
their fellow men. There is no known stan- 
dard by which their beneficent influence can 
be measured, but it is certainly safe to say 
that to no class of men is the country today 
indebted for the present high moral and 
spiritual standard of the community in as 
large a degree as to the early ministers of 
the gospel, those earnest and consecrated 
men who, disregarding personal comfort, 
spread abroad a knowledge of the Christ 



448 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and tauglit the great truths of the father- 
hood of God and the brotherhood of man. 
The subject of this sketch for many years 
labored faithfully in the cause of the Master 
and by a long life of earnest and self-deny- 
ing toil accomplished great good in this com- 
munity and now possesses the confidence 
and respect of all who know him. Because 
of the prominent part he took in the devel- 
opment of this region he is justly entitled 
to representation in a volume of this char- 
acter. 

The first ancestor of the subject of whom 
anything definite is now known was his 
great-grandfather, probably Gabriel Mark- 
ley by name, who was driven by re- 
ligious persecution from Holland in the 
year 1720. With a number of his fellow 
countrymen, he emigrated to ^America 
and settled first in Maryland. His son, 
Jonathan Markley, grandfather of the 
subject, was born in Maryland in 1760. In 
18 1 5 he emigrated to Pennsylvania and after 
residing there a few years went to Madison 
county, Ohio, where he remained until his 
death. The subject's father, John Mark- 
lev, was born near the city of Baltimore, 
Maryland, ]\Iarch 10, 1809, and died De- 
cember IQ, 1870. His wife, who in her 
maidenhood bore the name of Melinda Wil- 
son, was born in Madison county, Ohio, 
January 12, 1816, and died April 20, 1888. 
John Markley remained upon the home farm 
during his boyhood, assisting his father in 
the clearing and development of the land, 
receiving in the meantime but little educa- 
tion. On the 2d of March, 1834, he was 
married to Melinda Wilson, the daughter 
of Valentine Wilson, reputed to be the 
wealthiest man in Madison county, Ohio 
In 1835, accompanied by his young wife 



and his brother Gabriel and wife, he emi- 
grated to Wells count}', Indiana, and located 
on the north bank of the Wabash river, five 
miles above where the city of Bluffton now 
stands. He entered there two hundred acres 
of land and proceeded at once to the task 
of clearing and developing it. He at first 
erected a rude log cabin, in which they made 
their home for a number of years and in 
which the subject was born. Subsequently 
Mr. Markley was enabled to purchase five 
hundred acres of additional land, which he 
cultivated with marked success for a number 
of years. He alwaj-s followed the pursuit 
of farming, in which he was prosperous, 
was honorable and straightforward in his 
intercourse with his fellow men and enjoyed 
the respect and esteem of a large circle of 
friends and aa]uaintances. When he first 
went to that locality there were not enough 
settlers there to fill a jury and officer a 
court. In politics he was a Republican and 
took a keen and active interest in all things 
affecting the interests of his county. He 
and his wife were members of the Christian 
church and were consistent and faithful in 
the performance of their religious duties, 
bringing up their children in the light of 
the gospel and of their own examples. They 
were the parents of eleven children, briefly 
mentioned as follows : Valentine is deceased ; 
Rachael Ann is the wife of Stephen Adsit, 
of Hoopeston. Illinois: Jonathan J. is the 
subject; William D. lives at Vera Cruz, 
Harrison township, this county ; Hester is 
deceased; INIatilda J. is the wife of Capt. E. 
Y. Sturgis, of Bluffton; Amanda, deceased; 
Ellen is deceased; Louis P. lives at Vera 
Cruz, this county; Samuel T. resides at El- 
wood, Indiana, and Wilson A., of Harrison 
township, this county. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



449 



Jonathan J. Markley, the immediate sub- 
ject of this biographical sketch, was born in 
Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana, 
on the 7th of March, 1839, his birth taking 
place in the little log cabin which his father 
first erected on the clearing he had made 
there. The subject remained at home until he 
attained his majority, faithfully assisting his 
father in the arduous task of clearing the 
land and cultivating the soil, and developing 
at the same time that strength of body and 
those sturdy qualities of character which 
served him so well in the after years of his 
life. During his teens he received the ad- 
vantages of such mental training as was to 
be obtained in the common schools of the 
neighborhood. Not being satisfied with 
such education as he had received, after at- 
taining his majority he secured a position 
as teacher in the schools of Vera Cruz, 
holding this position for three years and also 
teaching one year in another school. In this 
way he earned enough money to enable him 
to enter Liber College in Jay county, this 
state, where he spent three years in earnest 
study. During his attendance at college he 
found it necessary to work out on Saturdays 
and in evenings in order to defray his ex- 
penses. He selected his studies with a view 
to entering the ministry and all his ambi- 
tions and efforts were centered upon that 
purpose. Upon leaving college he returned 
home, but after remaining there about two 
years he, in 1871, came to Lancaster town- 
ship and occupied forty acres of land which 
he had previously purchased. He was a 
member of the Christian church and in 1869 
he began preaching, his first charge being 
the Christian church at Murray, Lancaster 
township. That his services in the capacity 
of a pastor and minister of the gospel were 



satisfactory is evidenced by the fact that he 
was retained in this one charge for the re- 
markably long period of thirty-one years, 
a period in which his influence in the com- 
munity was constantly manifest and ac- 
knowledged by all who were conversant 
with his labors. In 1900 Mr. Markley re- 
signed his ministerial work and retired from 
active pastorate, much to the regret of many 
who had sat under his preaching and been 
the recipients of his ministrations. During 
this long pastorate he labored earnestly and 
indefatigably for the uplifting of those with 
whom he came in contact and by an ex- 
emplary life influenced many to turn from 
sin and follow the teachings of the Nazarene. 
In 1898 Mr. Markley erected a hand- 
some large brick house and in 1900 he 
erected a fine new barn, being now the owner 
of one of the finest pieces of farm property 
in Wells county. From the original tract 
of forty acres he has, by thrift, economy and 
enterprise, been enabled to increase his hold- 
ings to two hundred and forty acres of as 
good land as can be found in Wells county. 
]\Ir. Markley enjoys the distinction of being 
one of the oldest ministers in the county 
and also of having married more couples 
and preached more sermons than any other 
preacher in the county. In politics he has 
been a lifelong Republican and has always 
taken a keen interest in the trend of public 
events, though at no time an aspirant for 
public office. A bit of early history is con- 
nected with Mr. Markley's home in the fact 
that where his house now stands occurred 
the first marriage ceremony performed in 
the county, a minister from Ft. Wayne of- 
ficiating. The couple then married are yet 
living at Buena Vista, the wife having cel- 
ebrated her eighty-fourth birthday during 



450 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tlie first week in Jul_v, 1902. Another note- 
wortliy fact is tliat Mr. Markley officiated 
at the funerals of eight of his neighbors 
within two'years, all residing within sight of 
his home and their aggregate ages being 
six hundred and forty-three years. 

On the i8th of January, 187 1, Mr. 
Markley was united in the holy bonds of 
matrimony with Miss Mary M. Huffman, 
who was born August 18, 1840, the daugh- 
ter of Philip and Margarite Hufifman, of 
Blufifton. This union has been a most happy 
and congenial one and in many ways Mrs. 
Markley has proven her devotion and faith- 
fulness to her husband's best interests. A 
devout and consecrated Christian, she has 
always so lived as to cast no discredit upon 
the religion which she professes and by her 
many acts of charity and kindliness has en- 
deared herself to a host of warm and loyal 
friends. 



WILLIAM WILKIN. 

Sixty-si.x years' continuous residence in 
one county ought to be sufficient to en- 
title a person to fame, and when coupled 
with a most exemplary life, interspersed 
with much good work and the achievement 
of some success in all that was undertaken, 
it certainly does. William Wilkin, of Lan- 
caster township. Wells county, Indiana, may 
justly lay claim to all this. He was born in 
Harrison county, Ohio, April 5, 1833. His 
father was Thomas P. Wilkin, who moved 
his family, consisting of two children and 
his mother, in 1836 from Harrison county, 
Ohio, to Wells county, Indiana. His wife 
had died in Harrison county, Ohio, in 
Octobei<, 1834. He settled upon two 



hundred and forty acres of government land 
in Lancaster township and afterward ac- 
quired three hundred and twenty acres in 
Jefferson township. For the first year and 
a half of his life in the Hoosier state he made 
his home at Murray, when he built upon his 
land in Jefferson township a comfortable 
log cabin, into which he moved his family 
and began life in regular pioneer style. 
After coming to Wells county he married 
Rhoda Sutton, but had no children by this 
lady. He proceeded to drain, clear and fence 
this land and as his means permitted erected 
suitable buildings. Up to the time of his 
death, wdiich ocairred November 19, 1873, 
he continued to improve this farm, and 
made it one of the best in that part of the 
county. He was a native of Virginia and 
was born January 9, 1800. His father died 
while he was still an infant in their Virginia 
home. His widowed mother was a woman 
of much force of character and unusual 
courage, and with her infant son she braved 
the perils and hardships of the long journey 
over mountain and stream, through forest 
and swamp to Harrison county, Ohio, where 
she continued to reside thereafter. Here 
Thomas P. grew to manhood, acquiring such 
education as could be had in those early 
times and tenderly caring, until her death, 
for the brave mother who had been so de- 
voted to him. When he was thirty-one 
years of age he married Mary Poland, 
daughter of James Poland, of Muskingtmi 
county. Ohio, and to them were born two 
children, William and Mary, the latter the 
widow of John Kleinknight. of Lancaster 
township. Wells county. In politics Thomas 
Wilkin was a Democrat, and took an active 
interest in the success of his party, though 
never aspiring to public office. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



451 



William Wilkin, the subject of this re- 
view, was reared in his father's log cabin 
on the farm in Jefferson township. When 
sufficient strength had come to him it was 
utilized by his father in the clearing or in the 
field. He swung an ax in the forest, pulled 
a cross-cut saw in the clearing, wielded a 
spade in the ditch or followed a plow in the 
field. Thus he was trained in habits of in- 
dustry and thrift which he has ever found 
useful during the course of his long and 
active life. The opportunities for mental 
culture were, unfortunately, by no means 
equal to those ofifered for the development 
of the body in the times to which reference 
is made. Schools were then few and far 
between and books were esteemed almost 
priceless treasures. The era of numerous 
printing presses had not yet set in and indi- 
viduals were born, grew to maturity, passed 
to old age and died without ever experienc- 
ing the ecstatic delight of even once seeing 
their name in print. It may, therefore, be 
inferred that where people were depending 
for their education upon what fugitive pieces 
of printed matter might find their way out 
on the borders of civilization, they could 
hardly be expected to become particularly 
ripe scholars. By nature young W^ilkin 
was passionately fond of letters. Every scrap 
of paper that looked as if it had even a re- 
mote acquaintance with a printing press was 
carefully treasured up. and by the light of 
the light of the log fire in the big hearth, at 
night, was carefully gone over until its ut- 
terance became familiar. This was a hard 
way of getting an education, but it was a 
way that was quite likely to impress the 
possessor with the value of the education 
thus obtained. 

William Wilkin was united in marriage. 



on February 21, 1856, to Mary F. A. Tren- 
ary. daughter of Richard Trenary, of Jeffer- 
son township. This lady was born in Allen 
county, Indiana, July 4, 1838. A year pre- 
vious to his marriage Mr, Wilkin had pur- 
chased his father's farm, and taking up his 
residence there he continued to care for the 
old gentleman until the latter's death. To 
Mr. \\'ilkin"s first marriage were born nine 
children. They were Richard D., born Janu- 
ary 14, 1857; Mary E., January 2, 1859; 
Nancy M., September 19, i860; William A., 
April 4, 1862 ; Emma J., February 12, 1864 ; 
Alonzo D., March 8. 1867; Clarence V., 
April 19, 1869; Nelson S., February 7, 
1872: Grace A., May 3, 1874. Richard, 
Mary, William and Grace are dead; Nancy 
M. is the wife of Marion Garton, and Emma 
is the wife of Charles Gillon. They all re- 
side in Wells county except Emma, who 
lives in Michigan. Mary T. Wilkin, mother 
of this interesting family, departed this life 
November 19, 1874. On July 13, 1884, Mr. 
Wilkin was united in marriage to Rachael 
A. Norton, daughter of Harvey W. and 
Sarah A. Norton, of Liberty township. 
Rachael (Norton) Wilkin was born May 12, 
1850, in Chester township. Both are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
which Mr. Wilkin has been a trustee for over 
thirty years. 

Politically Mr. Wilkins is a very pro- 
nounced Democrat, working energetically 
for the success of the ticket in each succes- 
sive campaign. Defeat to his party is looked 
upon by him almost a personal calamity and 
his joy is correspondingly great over each 
success. It may be noted that the calamities 
have been monotonously frequent in recent 
years. He is a generous, kind hearted man, 
with a strong disposition to look carefully 



452 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



after his own affairs and allow other people 
to do likewise. Ever}^ one who knows him 
is his friend, his popularity not being con- 
fined to any sex, class or calling. 



MATTHEW J. PARK. 

Among the most enterprising and suc- 
cessful agriculturists of Rock Creek town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, is found Mat- 
thew J. Park, who was born in county Don- 
egal, Ireland, January 26, 1853, a son of 
Matthew and Jane (Buchanan) Park, farm- 
ing people and quite well-to-do. Matthew 
Park, about 1850, having heard glowing 
descriptions of the success which attended 
a nimiber of his fellow countrymen who had 
made their homes in the United States, de- 
termined to follow their example. Accord- 
ingly he left his family behind him and came 
to America and lived two years in Wooster, 
Ohio, where he engaged at mason work with 
his cousin. He then returned to Ireland, 
and, in 1853, came back with his family to 
America, worked in Wooster three years 
and then came to Wells county, Indiana, 
settling in section 30, Lancaster township, 
on forty acres of wild land he had pur- 
chased in the woods. He cleared up a 
farm and there passed the remainder of 
his life. He was educated in a high school 
in the old country, and was an elder in his 
church. The latter fact implies that he was 
a moral man, and as his walk through life 
was modest and unassuming, it is inferable 
that he was deeply imbued with the teach- 
ings of his Divine Master. His death took 
place in April, 1893, and he was mourned 
by all who knew him. His widow still sur- 



vives and makes her home with the subject, 
being in her ninety-first year. To the mar- 
riage of Matthew and Jane (Buchanan) 
Park were born nine children, of whom the 
following attained mature years : Rebecca, 
now the widow of Joshua Perkins, of Mur- 
ray, this county: James A., who resides in 
Bluffton ; Ellen, deceased wife of John Bur- 
nett; Joseph W., a blacksmith in Murray; 
Rev. Robert H., a graduate from the Na- 
tional Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, 
and from the Xenia Theological Seminary, 
and now officiating in \^alencia, Pennsyl- 
vania, and Matthew J., of this review, the 
next to the youngest member of the family 
and the youngest one who grew to maturity. 
Matthew J. Park was a child but ten 
weeks old when his parents started for 
America and not quite four years of age 
when brought to Wells county, Indiana. He 
was educated in the district schools and 
when old enough and strong enough was 
set to work as an assistant to his father on 
the home farm. He attended school, how- 
ever, until completing the graded school 
course of Bluffton and at the age of seven- 
teen years was licensed to teach, a vocation 
he followed in the winters of 1871 and 1872 
in Harrison and Liberty townships. He 
then entered the National Normal Univer- 
sity at Lebanon, Ohio, where he took a 
teacher's course, the better to qualify himself 
for the profession he had chosen, and for ten 
years afterward met with eminent success 
in his calling in Wells county. On the 29th 
day of December, 1881, Mr. Park was 
joined in marriage with Miss Rachel O. Lee, 
a daughter of John Lee, a well known resi- 
dent of Rock Creek township. She was born 
in Wells county, Indiana, April 5, i860. Mr. 
Park had no money nor any other capital 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



453 



save good healtli, energy and a determina- 
tion to win in the battle of life. He there- 
fore rented a farm, and, thoroughly under- 
standing the management of this line of 
industry, was able, at the close of fourteen 
years, in 1895, to purchase his present place 
of one hundred and four acres, but which 
place at that time was cleared off to the ex- 
tent of thirty acres only, with no buildings 
whatever. In 1896 ^Ir. Park erected his 
present substantial and handsome dwelling 
and in 1902 built his convenient barn, sixty- 
six by sixty-six feet in its ground plan, with 
a cement floor, and finished in a style tuisur- 
passed by that of an}- other barn in the 
county, the cost of erection reaching about 
sixteen hundred dollars. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. ^Matthew 
J. Park has been blessed with three children, 
namely : John C, who was born April 24, 
1883, attended the common schools imtil 
about 1899, and in 1900 attended the high 
schools of Murray and is now in Purdue 
University; Harold M., born September 27, 
1887, will graduate from the common 
schools this year, and Archie Glenn, the 
voungest of the three, was born August 24. 
1892. 

Mr. and Mrs. Park are members of the 
United Presbyterian church at Murray, of 
which Mr. Park is an elder and a trustee. 
In politics he is a Republican, but has never 
been a seeker after office. Mr. Park has 
long been an active member of the Farmers' 
Institute and was its secretary in 1901, and 
in 1903 was elected president. He is at 
present the solicitor for the Rock Creek 
Township Mutual Insurance Association, 
which was organized in 1875 and has a real 
estate capital worth three million dollars. 
Mr. and Mrs. Park are classed among the 



most intelligent of the residents of Rock 
Creek township and consequently enjoy the 
respect and esteem of their neighbors to an 
unusual degree, and no words of commenda- 
tion that can here be added could enhance 
the esteem in which thev are held. 



JOSEPH FALK. 

This gallant ex-soldier of the late Civil 
war, but now one of the most peaceful and 
industrious residents and farmers of Rock 
Creek township, Wells county. Indiana, is 
a native of Richland county, Ohio. He was 
born June 29, 1838, and is a son of Albert 
and Catherine J. (Pfaff) Falk, who were 
married in their native country, Herholtz, 
Germany, and shortly afterward immigrated 
to America, and for some time lived in 
Richland county, Ohio, and in 1849 came to 
Wells county. Albert Falk first bought a 
tract of one hundred and sixt}^ acres of 
land in Rock Creek township, later pur- 
chased an additional tract of one hundred 
acres, and still later, purchased forty acres 
more, then fifty acres, and finally added 
ninety acres more, making in all four hun- 
dred and forty acres, which was considered 
to be quite a fortune in Wells county half a 
century ago, the first tract being that 
which Eli Houtz now owns. To Albert and 
Catherine J. (Pfaff) Falk there were born 
nine children, of whom seven are still living, 
viz : Joseph, Catherine, Mary, John. Wil- 
liam, Peter and Henry. Jacob, the eldest 
member of the famih-, and Susan are de- 
ceased. Mrs. Catherine Falk was called 
hence by death about 1857, and subsequently 
Albert Falk married Mrs. Rachel Fulton, 



454 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



but to this union tliere liave been no children 
born. 

Joseph Falk, the gentleman with whom 
this biographical record has the most to do, 
was educated in the district school and Avas 
reared to hard labor on the home farm. He 
was thus employed at work when the fierce 
alarm of war was sounded throughout the 
country, and, inspired with patriotism, he 
at once offered his services, and life if need 
be, in his country's cause. He enlisted, 
August i8, 1862, in Company B, One Hun- 
dred and First Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
Capt. Peter Studabaker, and among the 
other actions in which he took part were the 
following: Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
Resaca and Dalton ; he was on the march 
through Georgia to the sea, and fought at 
Bentonville, North Carolina. He was hon- 
orably discharged June 24, 1865, and re- 
turned to his home in Rock Creek township 
and resumed his work on the farm. 

Joseph Falk was united in marriage No- 
vember 12, 1868, with Miss Catherine 
Bender, who was . born in Berks county, 
Pennsylvania, May 23, 1844, and is a daugh- 
ter of John and Barbra (Mast) Bender, who 
were among the early settlers of Wells 
county, Indiana. This union was crowned 
by the birth of three children, namely : Eliza 
J., born January 30, 1870, and now the wife 
of Archie W. Gordon, a stock dealer in Lib- 
erty Center, this county; William S., bo>-n 
February 23, 1878, married Ida V. Ludwig, 
and is a resident of Rock Creek township, 
and Philip S., who was born September 5, 
1880, and died December 12, 1882. Mr. 
Falk was bereaved in the loss of his wife 
February 21,1 899. 

Mr. Falk in his boyhood was very hard 
working and economical and was early able 



to purchase a farm of eighty acres, but the 
land was wet and situated deep in a forest. 
Although a plasterer by trade, Mr. Falk had 
had considerable experience in his early life 
in agricultural pursuits and well knew what 
he was about when he purchased his farm. 
He cleared and ditched his place, which is 
in section 27, to which he added another 
tract of eighty acres in section 26. He had 
erected a handsome residence and substantial 
barn, forty by seventy-six feet, but had the 
misfortune to lose the latter by lightning. 
He at once replaced it by an equally good 
one, and in May, 1897, he had the misfortune 
of losing his house by fire, which he replaced 
by his present fine dwelling the same year. 

Since being bereft of his wife Mr. Falk 
has been living alone. Mrs. Falk was a 
member of the Lutheran church, while Mr. 
Falk is a member of Lew Dailey Post, G. A. 
R.. at Bluffton. In politics he is a Republi- 
can, but is not very active as a politician. He 
is a well read gentleman, of rare intelligence, 
and is one o the most public spirited citizens 
of Rock Creek township, where he is widely 
known and greatly respected by all classes. 



JOHN H. HOGG. 

One of the most diligent and enthusiastic 
young farmers of Rock Creek township, 
Wells county, Indiana, is John H. Hogg, a 
native of the place, born April 27, 1877, and 
the second of the three children, two sons 
and one daughter, that have graced the mar- 
riage of James and Elizabeth (Torrence) 
Hogg, the former of whom was born in 
Ireland, whence he came to America when 
a young man. Mrs. Elizabeth (Torrence) 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



455 



Hogg was also horn on the Emerald Isle, 
but may almost claim America as the land of 
her nativity, as she was but one year of age 
when brought to the United States by her 
parents, who settled in Wooster, Ohio. 
James Hogg and Elizabeth Torrence were 
joined in matrimony in Wells county, Indi- 
ana, their union resulting in the birth of 
three ' children, alluded to above, who, in 
order of birth, were naiued as follows : Sar- 
ah, who is nciw the wife of W. D. Wood- 
ruff, of Liberty township. Wells county; 
John H., whose name stands at the head of 
this brief biographical record, and Francis 
W., an unmarried son, on his father's farm. 

John H. Hogg was born and reared on 
his father's farm, which he, at the proper 
age. began to assist in cultivating during 
the summer seasons, while his winters were 
devoted to attending school and acquiring 
a sound education. This was the life he led 
until his marriage, December 27, 1900, to 
Miss Gertrude Lee, a daughter of J. A. and 
Delia (Goodyear) Lee. She is also a native 
of Rock Creek township, this county, and 
was born April 13, 1880, and is the only 
child of her parents. Her mother is still 
living and resides in Bluffton with her own 
mother. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Hogg are 
members of the United Presbyterian church 
at Bluffton. of which Mr. Hogg is one of 
the elders and members of the Sunday 
school. Both take great interest in the af- 
fairs of the church and are liberal contribu- 
tors toward its support. 

In politics Mr. Hogg is a stalwart Re- 
publican as to national affairs, but in local 
matters exercises his franchise in favor of 
the candidate best fitted in his judgment 
to perform the duties of the office which is 
to be filled, seldom making a mistake in se- 
lecting his candidate. 



Although still a very young man, Mr. 
Hogg has made a phenomenal success of his 
agricultural pursuits, and has proven himself 
a scientific and up-to-date agriculturist. He 
deals quite extensively in live stock, in which 
he handles only the best grades and has 
made a success in this line of business. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hogg, though still young in years, 
stand very high in the esteem of their neigh- 
bors, among whom they have lived all their 
days, and among whom they are looked upon 
with no small share of pride as being native 
born. 



CYRUS WALTERS. 

One of the youngest ex-soldiers of the 
late Civil war. but now a citizen of Rock 
Creek township, Wells county, Indiana, is 
Cyrus Walters, who was born in Kentucky, 
March 20, 1848. His parents, John C. and 
Elizabeth (Womer) Walters, were natives 
of Pennsylvania, where they were married 
and where they reared all their children with 
the exception of Cyrus. After the arrival 
of the family in Kentucky, the father engaged 
in his calling of an agriculturist, and here 
lost his wife, who died when their son Cyrus 
was quite small and while she was there on 
a visit, the family having moved to Indiana 
some years previous. John C. Walters 
again married and the early training of 
Cyrus was under the oversight of the 
step-mother, with whom he did not agree 
very well, deeming her to be unkind in many 
respects. However, he remained under the 
parental roof until he reached the age of six- 
teen years, when he ran away and, filled with 
an ardent love for his country, enlisted, in 
Allen county, Indiana, in Company G, Thir- 
teenth Indiana Cavalry, under Cajjt. J. C. 



456 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Wilson. This was in the spring of 1864 
and he, young as he was, proved to be a 
brave and gallant soldier, serving two years, 
principally with Gen. George H. Thomas, 
and taking part in many battles, including 
those of Huntsville, Alabama, Decatur, Ala- 
bama, and Nashville, Tennessee. 

The Walters family were residents of 
Adams county when Cyrus entered the army, 
and after an honorable discharge from the 
service, with a pension of six dollars per 
month, Cyrus returned to his father and 
step-mother and li\'ed with them a few 
months in Adams county, when, in June of 
the same year, he located in Allen county, 
Indiana, where for about eight months he 
was employed in cutting wood by the cord, 
and then \\'orked out by the month for 
awhile. 

In 1867 Cyrus W^alters was happily mar- 
ried to Miss Mary A. Wisehaupt, a native of 
Adams county, but at the time of the mar- 
riage ceremony a resident of Wells county, 
where the young couple rented a farm for 
about a year, or until November, 1868, 
They then lived on the James Metts farm 
about three years and then moved to the • 
Oldfather farm, on wdiich he lived about one 
year, thence to Ossian, where Mr. Walters 
was employed by Dr. Crouse for some time 
on his farm. Later Mr. Walters moved- to 
the northeast part of Jefferson township 
and lived on the Snarr farm for three years, 
and next went to Bluffton, in 1882, and en- 
gaged with John Studebaker on a farm for 
a short time, in the meantime carefully sav- 
ing his earnings. In 1890 Mr. Walters 
traded what property he owned for his pres- 
ent farm of forty acres in Rock Creek town- 
ship, the tract then being deep in the woods 
and possessing no improvements. This farm 



Mr. Walters has since cleared up and im- 
proved in every respect, including five hun- 
dred rods of tile ditch. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Walters have Ijeen born 
eleven children, of whom eight are still liv- 
ing, namely: Alfred; Ella, wife of George 
Bull ; Frank ; Eva, wife of William Sheets ; 
Charles, Millie, Ray and Wayne. The fam- 
ily attend the Methodist Episcopal church, 
of which the parents have long been mem- 
bers, and of which Mr. Walters is one of the 
trustees. Both Mr. and Mrs. Walters are 
active workers in this religious body, and 
fraternally Mr. Walters is a member of Lew 
Dailey Post, G. A. R., at Bluffton. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican and does faithful work 
for his party whenever his assistance is re- 
quired, but has never sought a reward of any 
kind. He is a gentleman of retiring habits 
and respected by all for his unswerving in- 
tegrity, for his industrious attention to his 
own affairs and for his kindly and equable 
disposition. 



HARVEY B. LANCASTER . 

Harvey B. Lancaster, born February 17, 
1864, one-half mile south of Keystone, Wells 
county, Indiana, is a son of Nathan Lancas- 
ter, a native of Indiana, born in November, 
1836, and Mary Starr, born on the old Starr 
farm in Chester township, Wells county, In- 
diana, both of whom are yet living in Ches- 
ter township. Nathan is a son of John and 
Ruth Lancaster, both natives of Ohio who 
settled in Grant county, Indiana, in an early 
day and later came to Wells county, Indiana, 
where John died in June, 1899. Ruth is yet 
living with a daughter, Mrs. Mollie Cox, in 
Hartford Citv, Indiana. Nathan Lancaster 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



457 



is the father of seven children, four of whom 
are still living: L. G. ; H. B., the subject 
of this sketch ; Jennie, who is now the wife of 
G. A. Mason : J. E. Lancaster, deceased ; M. 
E., deceased; and O. L. Lancaster, now at 
home with his father. The subject of this 
sketch attended the schools of Keystone in 
Chester township until he was sixteen years 
of age, when he entered the normal school 
of Bluffton, Indiana, in which he remained 
for three years. He then taught two terms 
of school in Chester township, at schools 
Nos. 3 and 4. 

The subject remained with his father, 
working for his board, clothes, etc., until he 
was twenty-one years of age, when he began 
farming for himself. He spent one season 
on his grandfather Lancaster's farm and the 
next year, March 13, 1886, he married Miss 
Sarah Jarrett, born in November, 1866, a 
daughter of John and Mary (Sells) Jarrett. 
The parents of Sarah were both old settlers 
of Chester township. Wells county, and are 
now deceased. After his marriage the sub- 
ject settled on the farm where he now lives, 
which was then all in the woods. At the time 
of his purchase there were no improvements 
whatever on his land, but he now has seven- 
ty acres of it cleared, in a high state of culti- 
vation, and improved with good buildings. 
Mr. Lancaster has been a breeder of com- 
mon-grade stock and, being located in the 
oil fields, has devoted some time to his in- 
terests in that line. There are two wells on 
his farm which are producing five inches 
(tank measure) per day. 

Mrs. Lancaster is a member of the 
Friends' church in Keystone, and an amiable, 
intelligent Christian lady, devoted to her 
husband, home and children. The subject is 
is a Republican in politics and an active 



worker in the ranks of his party and especial- 
ly interested in all matters politically pertain- 
ing to his own county and township. The 
foregoing record of the subject establishes 
the fact that the old pioneers and first set- 
tlers cannot appropriate all the credit for 
subduing the wilderness and clearing up the 
country, and proves that a worthy descend- 
ant of that class to whom the present popula- 
tion owes so much even of the third genera- 
tion, after availing himself of the opportun- 
ities by obtaining an education, had the am- 
bition, energy and force of character to 
carve out for himself a farm and home from 
the virgin forest. His achievement and suc- 
cess in that line, as well as his efforts to im- 
prove the live stock interests of his locality, 
with his intelligent interest in public affairs, 
should prove an inspiraton to the young 
men of his vicinage to emulate his example in 
his aspiration to a higher citizenship. Such 
men as Harvey B. Lancaster are an honor 
to the state and wield an untold influence in 
moulding that higher commonwealth toward 
which we are tending. 



WILLIAM H. RUPRIGHT. 

Among the men of the northern part of 
Wells county who deserve special mention 
in this work is William H. Rupright, who 
was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, January 
19, 1849, and is a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Daugherty) Rupright, natives of Pensyl- 
vania, where the paternal grandfather was 
also born, being of German extraction. The 
Daugherty family were of Irish origin and 
were among the pioneers of Ohio, where the 
parents of William H. Rupright were mar- 



458 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ried. Shortly afterward, in the fall of 1852, 
being in but indifferent circumstances, they 
came with their personal effects in the same 
wagon with another family to the eastern 
part of Jefferson township. Wells county, 
Indiana. They lived in an old barn until 
the father was able to secure eighty acres 
of land in Preble township, Adams county, 
and build a cabin. This was deep in the 
woods, but he was hopeful and industrious, 
and as the neighborhood began to develop he 
found plenty of work to do in clearing up his 
own place and in working as a carpenter, in 
which capacity he erected nearly all the 
frame dwellings in his vicinity. Though at 
first in debt for his land, he prospered and as 
he was able he added to his purchase until 
he now owns five hundred acres in Wells 
and Adams counties. During the Civil war 
he was an extensive buyer of horses, finding 
ready sale to the go\'ernment at a reasonable 
profit. John Rupright and wife still live 
on their original farm in Adams county, 
where he is widely and favorably known as 
a man of sturdy integrity, whose advice is 
considered worth having by his fellow citi- 
zens, who repose the most implicit confidence 
in his experience and judgment. In politics 
he was a Democrat and served for some 
years in earlier life as county assessor of 
Adams county. In 1883 he was elected coun- 
ty commissioner, and, meeting with no oppo- 
sition, at the expiration of his term, was 
unanimously re-elected, thus giving the pub- 
lic six years' service. The present court 
house and jail were erected under his watch- 
ful supervision, and many other important 
public improvements inaugurated. 

Mrs. Rupright is a member of the Chris- 
tian church, to the support of which Mr. 
Rupright is at least a liberal contributor, if 



not a communicant. To them were born 
seven children : William H. ; Granville W., 
who is one of the most extensive farmers in 
Adams county and is the present trustee of 
Preble township; Mary A., wife of Alexan- 
der White; Elizabeth, married to Samuel 
M. Kreigle; Susannah, wife of John W. 
Rex, of Decatur, Indiana ; Matilda, now 
Mrs. F. J. Summers; and Ida, wife of Sylves- 
ter Mills, of Lancaster township. 

William H. Rupright helped to clear 
up his father's farm and to perform such 
other duties as his strength and age permit- 
ted, though he was given the privileges of 
the common schools during the winter 
months. He remained on the home farm 
until twenty-one years old, being married 
August J I, 1870, to Miss Francina Arch- 
bold, a native of Jefferson township, and a 
daughter of Thomas Archbold. Mr. Rup- 
right then assumed charge of the old home- 
stead, also purchasing one hundred and six- 
ty acres of swamp land, for which he went 
into debt. This he ditched, converting it 
into fine farming land. He added to this 
property until he owned five hundred acres, 
but this he eventually sold and purchased 
one hundred acres southeast of Ossian and 
several properties in the village itself. 

To the maniage of Mr. Rupright and 
wife have been born five children, of whom 
one died in infancy and one at four years of 
age. The survivors are G. W. : Nellie, still 
at home; Lola M. was graduated from the 
Ossian high school in 1901 and is now the 
wife of Harry Beaty. 

Mr. Rupright is one of the leading Dem- 
ocrats of \\"ells county, and for years has 
been retained on the county central commit- 
tee of his party. He served as county com- 
missioner for seven years, during which per- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



459 



iod tlie present court liouse was erected, 
tliree hundred miles of pike road constructed 
and an immense amount of public drainage 
done. He proved one of the most active and 
efficient commissioners Wells county has had 
and, like his father, was ever an advocate of 
such improvements as will not only enhance 
the money value of Wells county property, 
but make it a more desirable place of resi- 
dence. In 1 886 ^Ir. Rupright purchased 
a half interest in the Ossian Grist IMill and 
ran it for two years, when he sold out and 
returned to his farm. In 1895. however, 
he again came to Ossian and purchased the 
fine residence on Mill street which is the 
center of a generous hospitality. Mr. Rup- 
right has been repeatedly called upon to ad- 
minister important estates, an evidence of 
the confidence of his fellow citizens, and in 
every instance has ably and conscientiously 
executed the trust confided to him. He has 
devoted much of his time and attention to 
the buying and shipping of stock since 1875, 
and since 1895 has devoted his energies al- 
most exclusively to this line of business, no 
man having a wider or warmer acquaintance 
and business relation in this particular 
sphere of action. He is a member and treas- 
in-er of Ossian Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M. 



WILSON A. ^^^OODWARD. 

Among the prominent stockmen of Ossi- 
an and northern Wells county is found ex- 
postmaster \Mlson A. Woodward, who was 
born in Jeflferson township. August 2, 1866, 
and is a son of Abraham and Mary (Brick- 
ley) Woodward, natives of Trumbull coun- 
ty, Ohio, and who settled in Jefferson town- 



ship in 1850, where the father purchased a 
farm and in time became an extensive agri- 
culturist and stock breeder. They had ten 
children, who were born in the following or- 
der : An infant, deceased; Loretta, wife of 
George Wasson; Olive, deceased wife of 
William Beaty ; Laura J., the present wife of 
the same gentleman; George T., a prosper- 
ous farmer in Jefferson township; Saman- 
tha E.. wife of L. T. Fryback, of Warren, 
Indiana; William A., a thriving farmer and 
trader of Jefferson township: John W., a 
stockman of Ossian; Wilson A., and Allie, 
wife of Captain E. E. Derr. 

^\'ilson A. Woodward was reared on his 
father's farm and acquired a good common 
school education. He remained with his 
father until he had attained his twenty-first 
vear. at about which time he was united in 
marriage with Miss Luella Summers, also a 
native of Jefferson township and a daughter 
of William Summers, a respected farmer. 
For a few years Mr. and Mrs. W^oodward 
resided on the farm, when they removed to 
Ossian, where he operated a grist-mill for a 
year and then opened a meat market, which 
he carried on for two years. Being a Demo- 
crat in politics, Mr. Woodward was appoint- 
ed, during the second term of President 
Cleveland, postmaster, a position he filled 
with credit to himself and the entire satis- 
faction of the public for four years, during 
that same period being associated with A. B. 
Davis in the drug business. Retiring from 
this partnership at the expiration of his offi- 
cial term, Mr. Woodward associated himself 
with G. A. ]\Iorton and A. M. Gibson in kty- 
ing and shipping live stock, in which busi- 
ness he is still engaged and with flattering 
success. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Woodward 



460 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



are five children : Goldie, Garth, Dana, For- 
rest and Vada. The parents are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church at Ossian, 
and fraternally Mr. Woodward is a charter 
member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, of 
which he is a past chancellor and represent- 
ative to the grand lodge. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, being a trustee of his lodge, as also of 
the insurance department of the Knights of 
the Maccabees. He is one of the most ac- 
tive men in his line in Wells county, is a 
good neighbor, a broad-minded and progres- 
sive citizen, and enjoys to the fullest extent 
the esteem of every member of the commun- 
ity in which he lives. His life has been one of 
untiring industry and his fortune is of his 
own making, and he is generally regarded 
as one of the more substantial citizens of 
Wells countv. 



CAPT. E. E. DERR. 

Capt. E. E. Derr, of Ossian, is the son 
of H. B. and Clarinda Derr and was born in 
Wabash county, Indiana, September 30, 
1866. The Derr family formerly lived in 
Pennsylvania, and are natives of that state. 
Years ago they migrated to Ohio and later 
to Indiana. They lived for a time in Wa- 
bash and Allen counties, eventually taking up 
their permanent residence in Wells county, 
though the greater part of the first six years 
of Capt. Derr's life was spent in Allen 
county. About the year 1872 the family 
mo\'ed to Wells county, locating at Ossian. 
Here he attended school, acquiring an edu- 
cation that has been most useful to him in 
his career of usefulness. Having passed 
through the high school with well earned 



honors, he took up the profession of 
teaching and, although quite successful, 
his experience was such as to make 
the vocation distasteful to him for many 
reasons, not the least of which was 
the meager compensation granted for the 
enormous amount of work required. For 
eight years he worked in Nimmon's fac- 
tory, becoming skillful in the work required 
of him and popular with his employers and 
his fellow workmen. Meanwhile he had ac- 
quired a knowledge of the barber's trade, 
and on June 5, 1886, he opened a barber 
shop at Ossian. In March, 1897, the indi- 
vidual who would predict that this country, 
in little more than a year, would be involved 
in war with one of the leading European 
powers, was liable to be brought before a 
commission of lunacy to have his sanity in- 
quired into, and yet it must have been some- 
tliing in the nature of a prophec)' that in- 
duced E. E. Derr, at that time, to organize 
a military company from among the young 
men of the town and surrounding country. 
He was made captain of the company, and 
when not actively engaged in the duties of 
his shop, devoted himself to the study of 
military tactics. The result was that, in 
February, 1898, when the battle ship 
"Maine" was treacherously destroyed in the 
harljor of Havana, and when the country 
from one extremity to the other was clamor- 
ing for war. Captain Derr, so far as drill and 
military discipline were concerned; had his 
company of vigorous, athletic youths on 
prime war footing. Most of the members of 
this company enlisted and were mustered 
into the United States service. May 12, 1898, 
as Company F, One Hundred and Sixtieth 
Indiana Regiment. As might have been ex- 
pected, it proved to be one of the best be- 
ha\-ed, liest drilled, and most efficient com- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



461 



panics of volunteers that entered the service 
during the Spanish-American war. After 
a sojourn of some time in the South, the reg- 
iment was transferred to Cuba, where it did 
valiant service until the close of the war. It 
was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, 
April 25. 1899. Returning to his home in 
Ossian, Captain Derr engaged for a time in 
the liver}' business at Warren, Indiana. 
Finding that calling not wholly to his taste, 
he embraced an opportunity of selling out 
and, returning to Ossian, resumed his old 
business of barber, in which calling he is now- 
engaged and meeting with that degree of 
prosperity whjch his abilities, judgment and 
genial dispositon so well deserve. 

In 1890 Captain Derr was united in mar- 
riage to Aliss Allie Woodward, daughter of 
Air. and Mrs. A. Woodward, and they are 
the parents of two sons, Dale and Russell, 
aged nine and six years respectively. Polit- 
ically Captain Derr is a Republican, and on 
a number of occasions has been selected as a 
delegate to various county and state conven- 
tions. He has served two full terms as 
clerk and treasurer of his township. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging 
to Ossian Lodge No. 297, and of the Scot- 
tish Rite Masons at Fort Wayne, Indiana. 
He is also a Knight of Pythias and a Knight 
of the Alaccabees. 



JOHN REX. 

Among the oldest living representatives 
of the pioneer period in Wells county is John 
Rex, who has been an honored resident of 
this part of the state for over fifty-one years. 
Like many of the first settlers of the county, 



he is of Ohio birth, his parents, William and 
Susan (Sluss) Rex, having moved to Stark 
county, that state, from Pennsylvania, early 
in the last century. Mr. Rex is of German 
descent and inherits many of the character- 
istics of an ancestry long noted for industry, 
thrift and a high sense of personal honor. He 
was born in Stark county on the 25th day 
of January, 1828, and at the age of sixteen 
accompanied his parents to the county of 
Seneca, where he grew to young manhood on 
a farm. The lack of proper school facilities 
prevented him from acquiring any educa- 
tional training beyond a knowledge of the 
elementary branches, but a naturally bright 
mind and a desire for reading subsequently 
enabled him to make up for this deficiency. 
Young Rex assisted his father on the farm 
until reaching the years of manhood, when 
he severed home ties and engaged in farming 
upon his own responsibility. He began poor, 
but, with an inborn determination which hes- 
itated at no obstacles, he resolutely faced the 
future, resolved to win success if it could be 
done by energy, hard work and well directed 
thrift. The better to enable him to fight this 
world's battles, he chose a companion and 
helpmeet in the person of Miss Abigail Love, 
of Tiffin, Ohio, to whom he was married 
April 12, 1849, and in September, 1850, 
reached Wells county, Indiana, settling on an 
eighty-acre tract of unimproved land in the 
township of Jefferson. He built a small log 
cabin and for, several years experienced all 
the hardships and vicissitudes incident to life 
in the backwoods. Wild game of all kinds 
was plentiful and afforded the family an 
abundance of the choicest meats. Deer would 
frequently come close to the house and but 
little skill was required to kill one when it 
became necessary to replenish the larder. 



462 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Wild turkeys were also numerous, while 
smaller game, such as ducks, rabbits, squir- 
rels, pheasants, quail, etc., were hardly worth 
the ammunition. Mr. and Mrs. Rex worked 
early and late, in the woods, felling trees, 
burning logs, and doing the hundred and one 
other things to fit the land for tillage. In 
due time he had sixty acres in cultivation 
and later added to his original purchase until 
he owned a quarter section, one-half of which 
lay across the line in the county of Adams. 
By industry and good management he made 
other additions from time to time, finally 
becoming the owner of three hundred and 
twenty acres, all of which is admirably sit- 
uated and adapted for successful farming. 
Of this land ]\Ir. Rex cleared and developeci 
something like one hundred and forty acres 
himself, a task of sufficient magnitude to test 
the strength and endurance of the most vig- 
orous physique. In addition to cultivating 
the soil, he early turned his attention to the 
raising of live stock, and in this way realized 
more liberal returns than the income from 
his crops. Later he bought and shipped cat- 
tle for a time by the car load, which business 
also proved remunerative. As a farmer Mr. 
Rex always ranked with the first and as a 
business man he has few equals and no super- 
iors among the agriculturists and stock deal- 
ers of Wells county. His judgment has 
seldom been at fault, and his fore-thought 
often enabled him to take advantage of cir- 
cumstances which proved greatly to his 
financial advantage, without m the least com- 
promising his honor or interfering in any 
way with the good of those with whom he 
dealt. In all of his transactions his course 
has been open and straightforward, and no 
shade of suspicion has ever attached to his 
good name. 



In the year 1889 Mr. Rex left his farm 
and moved to the town of Ossian, where for 
one year he was associated with A. Mood- 
ward in the manufacture of flour. Shortly 
after remodeling the mill and installing the 
modern roller process, he inuxhased his part- 
ner's interest and continued the business as 
sole proprietor until ]\Iellin Harsh became his 
associate in 1896. In January, 1903, he pur- 
chased his partner's interest, thus again be- 
coming sole owner of the Rex Roller Mill, 
which has a capacity of sixty-five barrels of 
excellent flour. The mill is operated by an 
expert miller, a Mr. Kimbrook. Mr. Rex 
was also engaged in the hardware trade at 
Ossian for three years, with success and 
profit, selling his stock at the end of that time 
for the purpose of looking after his large ag- 
ricultural and live stock interests. For the 
last year and a half he has been living in 
retirement, though still managing his busi- 
ness affairs, which, in addition to his farm 
of ninety acres, includes a large tile factory 
in west Ossian, operated by a skillful fore- 
man, the demand exceeding the capacity. 

Mr. Rex comes from an old Democratic 
family, but e\-er since old enough to cast a 
ballot he has been a pronounced Republican 
in his own political views. He has been ac- 
tive in the support of his principles and keeps 
himself informed upon the leading questions 
and issues of the day. He is never absent 
from an electiim when able to get to the 
polls and his influence has done much to 
strengthen the cause of the party in the town- 
ship of his residence. In religion he sub- 
scribes to the United Brethren creed, of 
which body he has .been an earnest and de- 
voted member since early manhood. At this 
time he is steward and class leader of the 
Zion church, and for many years has been 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



463 



one of the substantial and liberal supporters 
of the congregation. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rex are the parents of four 
children, namely : Wilson, deceased at 
twenty-three years ; Israel, a farmer of Jef- 
ferson township: John ^^^, dealer in li\-e 
stock at Decatur, and Susie, who was the 
wife of Ed. Numbers, of Texas, and died at 
the age of thirty-eight years. There are also 
twelve grandchildren and three great-grand- 
children. Few men in Jefferson township 
are as well known as "Uncle Johnny Rex," 
the name by which he is familiarly called. 
As a neighbor he is the soul of liberality and 
good fellowship, and as a citizen no man in 
the county stands higher in the esteem of the 
public. All who know him honor him for 
his many estimable traits of character and 
his friendship is most prized by those who 
meet him in the social circle around his own 
hospitable fireside. He has lived to a noble 
purpose, has made the world better by his 
presence and his example has been the means 
of influencing many young men to choose 
a proper course of life and conduct. 



DR. A. H. METTS. 

The practice of medicine in northeastern 
Indiana immediately succeeding the war of 
the Rebellion was by no means the lucrative 
and pleasant profession it has since grown 
to be. In the country districts especially the 
lot of ihe practicing physician and surgeon 
was particularly trying. Bad roads, a 
sparsely settled country, inclement weather 
and a class of patients whose financial condi- 
tion precluded the possibility of their being 
liberal, or even just, to their conscientious 



medical attendant, rendered the practice of 
medicine and surgery by nc means the desir- 
able calling it now is. Dr. A. H. Metts, of 
Ossian, Indiana, is the fifth son of James W. 
and Miranda (Sutton) Metts, and was born 
in Lancaster township, Wells county, De- 
cember 18, 1837. The family consisted of 
nine children, one of whom is dead. Those 
living are: William, John I., Rev. M. S., 
A.H., Norvel, E. B., Mary E., wife of T. A. 
Doan, Druzilla, wife of Archibald Serepta. 
Dr. Metts spent the years of his boyhood and 
those of his early manhood on his father's 
farm. From early youth his devotion to 
duty and assiduity to every work undertaken 
gave promise of the useful and honorable 
life he has unselfishly devoted to amelior- 
ating the condition of his fellow creatures. 
He attended the district schools to so good 
purpose that while still a youth he was 
granted a license to teach and for some time 
followed that calling in Allen and Adams 
counties. When he was twent}--three years 
of age lie began the study of medicine with 
his brother. Dr. John I. Metts. He. how- 
ever, had not progressed far in his medical 
studies, when they were interrupted by the 
excitement incident to the breaking out of 
the Rebellion. He enlisted in Company G, 
One Hundred and First Indiana Volunteers, 
and was given little time for military train- 
ing, before the practical part of a soldier's 
life was thrust upon him. With his regi- 
ment, he took part in many of the hottest and 
most decisive battles of the war. Besides 
numerous skirmishes and several less import- 
ant battles, he was at Perryville, Kentucky, 
at the mill on Stone river, at Chattanooga 
and at Mission Ridge, where he was severely 
wounded and rendered incapable of further 
active service. Greatly to his regret, he was 



464 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



obliged to accept of his discharge in the lat- 
ter part of 1864. He returned to Ossian, but 
his physical condition did not admit of im- 
mediate resumption of his medical studies. 
When he did, however, it was with character- 
istic zeal and energy. He took a course at 
that leading technical institution, Rush Med- 
ical College, Chicago, and, returning to Os- 
sian. began the practice of his profession in 
1866, and has followed it uninterruptedly un- 
til a short time since, when he retired from 
active practice. He has a wide and merited 
reputation for his thorough and practical 
knowledge of medicine. His professional 
brethren are ever ready to avail themselves 
of his ability, and many an anxious parent, 
son. daughter, brother or sister has been 
greatly relieved when his advice is sought in 
consultation by their regular attendants. 

In June, 1866, Dr. Metts was united in 
marriage to Miss Harriet Burne. One daugh- 
ter, who died in infancy, was born to this 
marriage, and was not survived long by the 
mother, who died in 1868. The Doctor was 
subsequently married to Miss Jennie L. 
Swaim, daughter of Col. William Swaim. 
of the Thirty-fourth Regiment Indiana Vol- 
unteers, who had gone to the war as captain 
of Company A, which he organized, was 
made major and lieutenant-colonel, and in 
leading the regiment at Champion Hills was 
wounded, dying on the way home, near 
Memphis, on board a transport. The widow 
of Col. Swaim was, in her maidenhood. 
Miss Hannah Tog, a native of New Jersey, 
and she survived her husband until Febru- 
ary, 1895. The family were three sons and 
a daughter, viz : James, a farmer of near 
Ossian; David H., editor of the Chronicle at 
Bluffton, and Thomas T., who was also as- 
sociated with his brother in the publication 



of the Chronicle at his death at the age of 
thirty-six years. The daughter, Mrs. Metts, 
was reared in Ossian, and for several years 
was engaged in the millinery trade. 

Early in life Dr. Metts became a member 
of the Masonic fraternity, and he and Mrs. 
Metts are members of the chapter of the 
Eastern Star. He is also a member of Wil- 
liam Swann Post, G. A. R., of which he is 
past commander. Mrs. Metts is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and she is 
highly respected for her work in charitable 
fields, and for her liberality and Christian 
zeal. Dr. Metts is a zealous Republican and 
has served as trustee of his township. His 
devotion to his profession has prevented his 
accepting or undertaking more responsible 
or exacting public position, and he has pre- 
ferred to let less busy people devote them- 
selves to political work. Despite his sixty- 
five years of active, strenuous life and his 
injury in the cause of the Union, he is still a 
well-preserved man, with imimpaired mental 
faculties. Had he engaged in a less trying 
and exacting profession he might have re- 
mained in the harness many years to come. 
:\lay his declining years be all that the labors 
of his youth and middle age have richly 
earned for him. 



JACOB FATSCHER. 

The story of the life of Jacob Fatscher 
is an illustration of what may be accom- 
plished in America by a man of German 
birth and parentage. After all, the great 
majority of us are creatures of our sur- 
roundings and environment. Had Jacob 
Fatscher been taught early in life that money 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



465 



was made only to be spent, that industry was 
something to be practiced only when forced 
upon him by necessity, and that economy was 
something intended solely for the mean, par- 
simonious and miserly, the story of his life 
would be far dififerent. Fortunate in the 
possession of parents conversant with the 
value of money, the necessity of close appli- 
cation in all business undertakings, and the 
essential truth that without industry suc- 
cess is doubtful, the lessons taught him were 
in themselves a most valuable capital with 
which to start out in life. 

Jacob Fatscher was born July 8, 1850. 
When he was two years old his parents 
emigrated to America, landing in New 
York city and taking up their abode in 
Brooklyn. His father was a skilled mer- 
chant tailor, and so was not long in 
procuring employment at remunerative 
wages. Fully cognizant of the value of 
an education, he took particular care to 
see that his children attended school reg- 
ularly. He was also energetic in fortify- 
ing himself with a knowledge of the lan- 
guage, habits, ways, customs and tastes of 
the people in the midst of whom he was 
destined to spend the remainder of his life. 
In 1865 he had accumulated sufficient capi- 
tal, educational as well financial, to justify 
him in branching out in business for him- 
self. His business steadily grew and before 
many years he was gratified to number 
among his patrons some of the very best peo- 
ple. Meanwhile the youthful Jacob had ac- 
quired a knowledge of the business. He en- 
tered his father's establishment, first as an ap- 
prentice, next as a workman and, disclosing 
such keen business foresight and thorough 
knowledge of the requirements of the calling, 
his father soon offered him a partnership. 



which was readily accepted. In this way the 
business was conducted successfully until the 
parents died. Both parents were members 
and workers in the German Reform church 
and died in the faith of its teachings. The 
father was a man of many sterling qualities, 
provident and thrifty, who husbanded his 
means, was prudent in his investments and at 
his death left an estate valued at fifteen thou- 
sand dollars. They were the parents of three 
children, one of whom, Minnie, is dead. The 
others are Jacob and Maggie, who is the wife 
of George Schoener, of Brooklyn. 

Remaining in Brooklyn after the death of 
his father in 1887 only long enough to wind 
up the affairs, Mr. Fatscher in 1889 emi- 
grated westward with his family, taking up 
his residence at Ossian. He is the pioneer 
tailor, being the first to locate and conduct 
that business there. His business is most 
satisfactory and constantly growing. He has 
invested in property in the town and identi- 
fied himself with all its various interests. 
In 1873 ^""^ was united in marriage to Miss 
Elizabeth Bauman, and they are the parents 
of four children : Henry, who is associated 
with his father in business; Mamie, who is 
the wife of Adam Turner ; George, a black- 
smith in Bluffton, and Augusta M., at home. 
Mr. Fatscher is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias and of the endowment rank of the 
same order : he is past chancellor and has 
been a representative to the grand lodge. He 
is also a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and of the encampment at 
Blufifton, and represented the subordinate 
lodge in the grand lodge. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Presbyterian 
church. In politics he is a straight Republi- 
can and at the present time holds the office 
of clerk of the town of Ossian. While fi.xed 



466 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



in his political convictions, he does not as- 
pire to official distinction. Personally he 
is a genial, affable, whole-souled man, a faith- 
ful husband, an indulgent father, kind friend, 
good neighbor and a liberal, patriotic citizen. 



JOHN S. KREWSON. 

The gentleman whose name heads these 
paragraphs is widely known as one of the 
honored citizens of Ossian. Indiana, where 
he has lived nearly all his life and for a num- 
ber of years has been actively identified with 
the varied interests of the community. His 
efforts in the practical affairs of life, his 
capable management of his business interests 
and his sound judgment have brought to him 
prosperity, and his life demonstrates what 
may be accomplished by any man of energy 
and ambition who is not afraid to work and 
has the perseverance to continue his labors 
in the face of any discouragementswhichmay 
seem to arise. In all the relations of life he 
has commanded the respect and confidence of 
those with whom he has been brought in con- 
tact, and a biographical history of Wells 
county \\-ould not be complete without a 
record of his career. 

John S. Krewson, who for almost twent}' 
years has occupied the position of notary 
public, is well known in the community, not 
onlv by reason of his professional services 
and the part he has taken in social and in- 
dustrial affairs, but also because of his many 
excellent personal qualities. He was born in 
Sarahsville, Noble county, Ohio, on the 4th 
of March, 1846. In his veins there flows 
both German and Irish blood, one of his 
grandparents having been a German who 



settled in New Jersey during the Revolu- 
tionary period, while the other was a native 
of Ireland. His parents, Simon and Marga- 
ret Krewson, with their three small children, 
Clarissa J., Thomas G. and John S., emi- 
grated to Wells county, Indiana, in Novem- 
ber, 1846. and settled in the woods on what 
was then called the Indian Reserve. A 
portion of this land still remains in the pos- 
session of the family and is known as the 
Krewson homestead. The mother with her 
small children spent the first two winters 
alone in their little cabin home, in the midst 
of the almost trackless forest, wild animals 
being their only visitors, while the father was 
employed at Fort Wayne, then a mere village. 
In the hope of bettering his condition he 
made two trips (1850 and 1853) to Califor- 
nia, going each time by the waj- of New 
York, as the overland route was considered 
too dangerous because of Indians and the 
lack of means of conveyance. At the out- 
break of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted 
in Company G, One Hundred and First Indi- 
ana Volunteer Regiment, and sacrificed his 
life on the altar of his country, as he died at 
Gallatin, Tennessee, in March, 1863. and 
was buried in the Southland. Shortly af- 
terwards, however, his body was brought 
north and interred in Prospect cemetery, near 
his old home, where, on January 23, 1896, 
the wife and mother was laid to rest beside 
him. Upon his death she had nobly taken 
up the extra responsibility imposed upon her 
and bravely devoted her life and energies to 
the care and training of her children. 

The subject of this sketch was in early 
youth surrounded by almost insurmountable 
difficulties, conditions that would have utterly 
discouraged one less determined than he. At 
the age of fifteen he was afflicted with white 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLA.NA. 



467 



swelling, which left its effects upon him 
tliroughout life. At the age of twenty he 
had so far recovered as to be able to obtain 
a partial education. His preliminary educa- 
ti.on was obtained at the Ossian public schools 
after which he attended the ^lethodist Epis- 
copal College at Fort Wayne and at Oberlin, 
Ohio. He was of a studious disposition and 
made such progress that he was granted a 
license to teach, which profession he fol- 
lowed for eleven terms in one district, thus 
demonstrating his peculiar fitness for this 
most exacting of callings. Subsequently go- 
ing to Kansas he served in the capacity of 
deputy county recorder, after which he 
clerked for a time in a store. He then be- 
came the proprietor of a general store in 
Ossian, but in 1894 disposed of this business 
and purchased a stock of furniture. He later 
disposed of this, also, and retired to a small 
farm adjoining Ossian on the north, where 
he resides, enjoying the rest and quiet which 
is the reward of his former activity. Though 
comparatively retired from active commer- 
cial pursuits, Mr. Krewson's disposition will 
not allow of his remaining entirely impas- 
sive. He is engaged in notarial work, in- 
cluding special work in preparing and ad- 
justing evidence in pension claims, acting 
in conjunction with Todd & Todd, of Bluf¥- 
ton. He is at the head of a collection agency, 
is a dealer in real estate, a speculator in com- 
mercial paper, executor and administrator 
of many estates, and newspaper correspond- 
ent. He raises poultry, fine stock, fruits, 
berries and vegetables, finding pleasure and 
profit in thus getting in close touch with 
dame nature. 

Mr. Krewson was united in marriage, 
in Xovember, 1883, to Miss Mary E. Roe, 
the daughter of Ezekiel Roe, of near Ossian. 



This union has been a congenial one and has 
been blessed by the birth of three children, 
Fern, a graduate of the Ossian high school 
and still remaining under the parental roof, 
and twin boys, dying in infancy. Mr. Krew- 
son is an adherent of the Alethodist Episcopal 
church and was secretary of the building 
committee when the new church and parson- 
age were erected. In politics he has always 
been a stanch Republican, but at the same 
time possesses strong and well-grounded con- 
victions in favor of prohibition. He is ready 
at all times to lend his aid to the support of 
any measure designed to advance the moral 
or material prosperity of his town or county, 
as well as to promote the welfare of mankind 
in general. As a business man he has been 
successful, the result of his prudence, fore- 
sight, industry, natural business sagacity and 
his unswerving integrity. 



JOHN I. METTS, M. D. 

The searcher for data to be used in pre- 
paring a history of the Indiana school system 
and its educational institutions must go back 
to the original log cabin and trace the evolu- 
tion through various stages to the imposing, 
commodious, well lighted, well ventilated 
structures that are now the pride of cities, 
towns, villages and rural districts. Such 
a history can never be properly written until 
full justice is done to a band of men who are 
seldom mentioned in connection with edu- 
cational work, and yet who have done more 
to shape the public school system of Indiana 
than any other element. Reference is made 
to those humble ofificials. mercilessly criti- 
cized, scandalously abused, vihly vilified, the 
township trustees of the early days of this 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



commonwealth. An account of the griev- 
ances, difficulties and obstacles they had to 
encounter, surmount and overcome in tlie 
development of the schools would alone form 
a volume. A few of these old time trustees 
are still living, but they are content to let 
their work alone speak of the good that they 
have done. One of them is Dr. John I. 
Metts, of Ossian, Wells county. Few of 
these humble officials were under fire longer 
or acquitted themselves more creditably than 
did he. For twenty-one years he held the 
office of trustee in the township of Jefiferson. 
at a time, nearly fifty years ago, when much 
was to be done and there was little to do with. 
Dr. John I. Metts was born in Licking 
county, Ohio, June i6, 1832. His grand- 
parents on both sides, became residents of 
Wells county and made it their home until 
their deaths. His grandfather was John C. 
Metts, who came to near Murray September 
10, 1837, and there settled. The Doctor's 
maternal grandfather was Rev. Elijah Sut- 
ton, an old-school Baptist minister, and was 
one of the pioneer preachers through this 
section of the state. The Doctor's parents 
were James W. and Miranda (Sutton) 
Metts, who, September 10, 1837, moved the 
family from Licking county, Ohio, to Wells 
county, locating on government land just 
east of Murray. The only person then living 
in that section, and who still maintains his 
residence in the locality, was Jacob Haug. 
Such schools as were available in those early 
days were attended by the subject, and he 
improved his opportunities so well that at the 
age of seventeen he was enabled to begin 
teaching. His experience as a teacher cov- 
ered a period of four winter terms. With 
the means thus secured he attended school 
in the :Methodist College at Fort Wayne, and 



then entered the office of Dr. Davis, at Mur- 
ray, as a medical student, later taking a 
course of lectures at the Miami Medical Col- 
lege, Cincinnati. In the spring of 1855 he 
located at Ossian. At that time the greater 
part of Wells county was sparsely inhabited 
and the towns were only straggling hamlets, 
Ossian containing but a few cabins, which 
it were base flattery to call houses. The out- 
look was by no means promising for a young 
physician, but Dr. Metts felt himself equal 
to the emergency and determined to hang 
out his shingle. The entire Wabash valley, 
from the headwaters of the stream to where 
it empties into the Ohio, was notorious as 
the seat of billiousness, the home of fever 
and ague, and the later was the genuine old 
shaking kind at that. It is said that they 
had no use for the dentists in those times, 
for if teeth were to be extracted a well de- 
veloped case of ague and two or three sum- 
mary shakes of those times were sufficient 
to rattle out the finest and most deep rooted 
set of teeth that ever grew in the human jaw. 
Old settlers still residing along the Wabash 
assert, in all seriousness, that even the dogs 
have been known to shake with the disease. 
The treatment of malaria and malarial fevers 
was by no means as w^ell understood then as 
it is now. The young physician, knowing 
the prevailing malady he would have to en- 
counter, made the treatment a special study, 
with the result that he was soon able to break 
the most obstinate case, and eradicate the 
disease from the system. Before he had been 
in practice many months his services were 
in demand over a wide range of country. By 
frugality, economy and industry, he has ac- 
cumulated a handsome competency, two 
hundred and eighty fertile acres of Wells 
county soil being owned by him, besides 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



469 



which he is the possessor of much other de- 
sirable property and is interested in a number 
of promising investments. He has now 
partially retired from the more active prac- 
tice of his profession, devoting more detailed 
attention to the conduct of his farm, upon 
which he has resided the greater part of the 
time. 

June 18, 1859, Dr. Metts was united in 
marriage to Miss Nancy C. Cartright, the 
daughter of John and Margaret Cartright, 
who located in Wells county in 1852. She 
received a good .education and for years had 
been a teacher in the Wells county schools. 
To them were born five children, three of 
whom are living. Josephine is the wife of 
D. A. Walmer, of Blufifton. She was a 
graduate of Fort Wayne College, and has 
taught in the country schools of Wells county 
and in the city schools of Ossian and Blufif- 
ton, Indiana, and Winfield, Kansas; J. W. 
is a graduate of the same college, taught 
school also, but relinquished the calling for 
the more remunerative, though more labor- 
ious, one of farming ; Fred chose the profes- 
sion of his father, graduated from the Fi^rt 
\\'ayne Medical College and is now actively 
engaged in the practice at Ossian. 

Dr. John I. Metts is a member of Ossian 
Lodge No. 297, F. & A. M., of which he 
was a charter member and for a time 
its worshipful master. He is a member of 
the Methodist church and has served almost 
continuously for forty years as one of its 
trustees. 

It often occurs that men receive least 
credit for the best work done. It is so with 
Dr. Metts. He is a Republican and has 
been from the earliest days of the party ; but 
this did not prevent his acquaintances, neigh- 
bors and friends from thrusting upon him the 



office of township trustee as early as 1858 
and retaining him in it for a period of 
twenty-one years, nineteen of these being 
continuous service. His experience as a 
teacher was valuable, making him cognizant 
of the crying needs of the early schools, his 
own sympathies being in full accord with 
the more progressive teachers. When he 
became trustee the school houses were mere 
hovels. He constantly strove for better 
conditions and though progress was slow he 
soon had able supporters and a better line of 
buildings was secured, more competent 
teachers employed, greater interest aroused 
on part of pupils and patrons and suitable 
foundation laid for the present advanced 
ideas of educational progress. Before leaving 
office he had the satisfaction of having given 
to the township a graded school, among the 
finest of such in the state and the very first 
in Wells county. This work alone is worthy 
of Dr. John I. Metts. The people of today 
do not fully realize the grandeur of the work, 
but the rising generation and those yet un- 
born will do justice to men like Dr. Metts, 
who endured criticism and abuse in their 
efiForts to endow with learning the youths of 
their generation. Paying for every improve- 
ment as he went and never incurring debt 
without having the funds to pay it, he gave 
to Jefferson township a class of school build- 
ings and class of schools that were un- 
ecjualed in any other township in the county. 
Possessed of a disposition quiet and un- 
assuming, courteous and kind in every re- 
lation of life, nevertheless Dr. Metts is a man 
of great firmness and determination. He 
prizes the approbation of his fellow citizens, 
but, as is well attested by the salient features 
of his life, he will not sacrifice truth or hon- 
esty to secure popular approval. His recog- 



470 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



nized probity and integrity have won for 
him that exalted esteem and confidence that 
mark him as one of the worthy builders and 
developers of this favored section of the 
state, his impress upon its civilization not 
only now being strongly apparent, but of that 
permanent nature as to have its molding 
force upon those generations who will live 
in the future and learn of the personality of 
such men only from the pages of such vol- 
umes as this. 



SAMUEL ^I. KREIGH. 

It is always pleasant and profitable to 
contemplate the career of a man who has 
made a success of life and won the honor 
and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the 
record of the well-known farmer whose 
name heads this sketch, than whom a more 
whole-souled or popular man it would be 
difficult to find within the limits of the 
township where he has his home. 

Samuel M. Kreigh, one of the promi- 
nent and influential residents and farmers 
of this township, was born to Samuel and 
Magdaline (Beck) Kreigh in Jefferson 
township, October i6, 1851. He is a de- 
scendant of a sturdy race of Germans, his 
father's family being native Pennsylvani- 
ans, while the mother was a native Ger- 
man, having come to Pennsylvania as a 
child. The Kreigh and Beck famihes 
li\ed as neighbors in Jefferson township 
and in the course of time their children 
grew to maturity; little playfellows be- 
came sweethearts and the marriage of 
Samuel Kreigh and Magdaline Beck was 
the culmination of manv vears of friend- 



ship. The young couple first settled on a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres, 
where their family was reared, the hus- 
band becoming one of the first threshers 
of this part of Wells county. In 1881 his 
wife died and he later removed to Walker- 
ville, Michigan, where he still lives at the 
advanced age of seventy-seven years. 
Their family consisted of eight children, 
five girls and three boys. 

Samuel M. Kreigh was early employed 
in his father's saw-mill, soon learning the 
business and became head sawyer. Being 
closely confined to his post at the mill, his 
education was limited to about six years' 
study in the county schools, necessitating 
his learning his arithmetic after he had 
reached the mature age of twenty-one. 
His wages amounted to two dollars and a 
half a day and on this salary he ventured 
into matrimony, being married November 
17, 1S72, at the age of twenty-one, to 
^liss Elizabeth S. Rupright, a daugh- 
ter of John Rupright and sister of W. 
H. Rupright. She was born September 
20, 1865, and received a fair education 
in the common schools. Soon after his 
marriage Mr. Kreigh quit the mill busi- 
ness, which had been removed to Wil- 
liamsport, and rented the old farm and 
settled down to the life of a tiller of the 
soil. He later bought forty acres of it and, 
inheriting forty acres more, began in a 
modest way to accumulate property. He 
has made many improvements on the place, 
building substantial structures and putting 
his farm on a plane with the best in the 
county. For fifteen years he operated a 
threshing machine and made most of his 
living in that way. 

Of the subject's ten children, nine are 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



471 



living: Albert A. married Alice Hoover 
and lives in Ossian ; Fstella E. is the wife 
of John Souards, of Lancaster township; 
Joseph Vernon is employed in the tile mill 
at Echo, Indiana; Wilson W. is teaching 
in the Jefferson township schools; Chancy 
C, Jerald Glenden, Ida A., Laura L. and 
Dale D. Mrs. Kreigh is a member of the 
Prebyterian church at Elhanan and has 
reared her children in that faith. Mr. 
Kreigh has served as supervisor of the 
township, and as a delegate to Demo- 
cratic conventions. Being a genial, big- 
hearted man, he is able to sway the 
thoughts of his associates and his party is 
well cared for when her affairs are put into 
his hands. ]\Ir. Kreigh suffered a great 
misfortune in the loss of his left hand, 
which was crushed in a corn husking ma- 
chine some eight years since, the loss plac- 
ing upon him a severe handicap in the con- 
duct of his farming operations. 



JOHN CLOCK. 

With German blood flowing in our veins 
and German courage surging in our hearts, 
we are in no wise surprised that the Ameri- 
can nation is coming to the front with a 
bound. The massive intellect of the German 
and his stoic determination, blended with the 
keener, finer perceptions of other races, has 
made of the Americans a people not to be 
surpassed, and of whom John Clock, of Jef- 
ferson township, ^^'ells county, Indiana, is 
a typical representative. 

John Clock, the son of Conrad and 
Rosena (Beck) Glock, first opened his eyes 
to the light of day in Jefferson county. 



March 9, 1844. His father was a native of 
Wurtemberg, Germany, as was also his 
mother, both coming to this country with 
their parents when young. The Glock family 
settled in Jefferson township about 1838 and 
lived there until the death of the parents. 
The Clocks and Becks were neighbors in this 
new land and friendship soon grew into a 
stronger regard and Conrad Clock and 
Rosena Beck were soon married. They 
entered the farm, which is at present owned 
by their son, and began immediately to put 
it in condition for cultivation. When Con- 
rad Glock first entered his land from the 
government it was nearly all under water 
and his friends laughed at the idea that it 
could ever be made to produce anything. 
However, he was not discouraged, but went 
to work with a will and soon had his land so 
well drained that it was made to produce 
some of the best crops in the country. He 
was a quiet, unassuming man, but neverthe- 
less he was able to gather around him a host 
of friends. Six children were the result of 
the marriage of Conrad Glock and wife, viz : 
Fred, deceased; John; Eliza, the wife of J. 
M. Archibold; Martin, a resident of Roan- 
oke, Indiana ; Rose, the deceased wife of 
John M. Archibold, and Mary, the wife of 
William Schnitz, of Roanoke, Indiana. 

The early life of John Glock was spent 
on his father's farm, where he remained 
until he was twenty-one years old. He 
recei\'ed a c(.immon school education and 
afterward learned the plasterer's trade, which 
he followed for thirty years. In 1869 he 
married Miss Caroline Miller, who was of 
German descent, being born near Canton, 
Ohio, the daughter of Jacob Miller, of Allen 
county, Indiana. She had only a common 
education, having received her training in 



472 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



the country schools. Their two daughters 
are Rose A., who is the wife of John Shuey 
and hves on a farm in this township; 
Florence E., the wife of Lewis Nicklas, of 
Fort Wayne, Indiana. John Clock started 
out in life as a poor man, but by his energy 
and thrift has gained a comfortable position 
in life, at the present time being the owner 
of the old homestead, eighty acres of fine 
farm land, five miles east of Ossian. He 
never received any help from his family and 
it is owing to good management and hard 
work that he enjoys comparative ease today. 
Mr. Clock is a member of Ossian Lodge 
No. 719, I. O. O. F., being one of the charter 
members, and has filled every office in the 
lodge in successive order. In politics he is 
also active, being one of the substantial Dem- 
ocrats of Jefiferson township. - He is an in- 
fluential member of his party and has been a 
member of Wells county central committee, 
also serving on several occasions as inspector 
on the board of election. He is not only well 
known in Jefferson township, but throughout 
Wells county, and he has a host of enthusi- 
astic friends. He is prominent both politi- 
cally and socially and, besides being a good 
neighbor and excellent citizen, is a man of 
much thought and intellect, enjoying the 
highest regards of the residents of the com- 
munity in which he has spent his entire life. 



WILLIAM P. TAYLOR. 

There is no positive rule for achieving 
success, and yet in the life of the success- 
ful man there are always lessons which 
might well be followed. The man who 
gains prosperity is he who can see and 



utilize the opportunities that come in his 
path. The essential conditions of human 
life are ever the same, the surroundings 
of individuals differing but slightly, and 
when one man passes another on the high- 
way of life to reach the goal of prosperity 
before others who perhaps started out be- 
fore him, it is because he has the power 
to use advantages which probably encom- 
pass the whole human race. Today 
among the prominent citizens and suc- 
cessful agriculturists of Jefiferson town- 
ship, Wells county, Indiana, stands Wil- 
liam P. Taylor. The qualities of keen dis- 
crimination, sound judgment and execu- 
tive ability enter very largely into his 
make-up and have been contributing ele- 
ments to the material success which has 
come to him. 

William P. Taylor is a native of the 
Buckeye state, having first seen the light 
of day November 21, 1859, in Mahoning 
county, Ohio. His parents were Levi D. and 
Keziah (Callahan) Taylor, and were well- 
known and highly respected people. Levi 
D. Taylor was born in Pennsylvania on 
the 29th of June, 1823, and on the paternal 
side was descended from English ancestry. 
In 1832 he accompanied his parents upon 
their emigration to Mahoning county, 
Ohio, where they settled upon a farm. 
Upon the home Levi D. spent his youth 
and was early inured to the hard and in- 
cessant toil incident to a frontier farm in 
an early day. He attended the common 
schools of the neighborhood and acquired 
a fair training in the ordinary branches of 
learning. He loyally remained upon the 
home farm, assisting his father until he 
had attained his majority, when he learned 
the carriage and wagonmaker's trade, fol- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



473 



lowing that occupation until 1861. In that 
year he sold his business and also disposed 
of a farm which he owned, and came to 
Wells county, Indiana, purchasing a farm 
in Jefferson township, one and a half miles 
south of Ossian. He remained upon this 
place until 1892, when he remo\ed to the 
town of Ossian where he has since made 
his home, being retired from active par- 
ticipation in business. By the exercise of 
sound judgment in all his business trans- 
actions, he has accumulated a plentiful 
share of this world's goods and is now en- 
abled to live in comparative ease in the en- 
joyment of the fruit of his former toil. 
Throughout his life Levi D. Taylor has 
borne a well-merited reputation for honor 
and probity of character, and has been at 
all times deeply interested in the material 
and moral welfare of the communities with 
which he has been identified. 

Mr. Taylor has been twice married, his 
first companion, whom he wedded in Ohio, 
died in this county, July 26, 1882, after 
ha\'ing borne him three children, men- 
tioned as follows: Mary is the wife of \\'. 
J. McAfee and resides in Ft. Wayne ; 
Enoch M. married Ella Newhart and re- 
sides in LTnion township, and William P. 
For his second wife Mr. Taylor wedded 
Miss Lizzie Cunningham, of Lordstown, 
Ohio, but no children ha\e been born to 
this union. Levi D. Taylor was progres- 
sive in the fullest sense of the term, and 
among other enterprises with which he 
was identified was the erection of the first 
grist-mill at Ossian and he also assisted 
largely in the erection of the First Presby- 
terian church of that place. In politics he 
is a stalwart and uncompromising Republi- 
can, but has never taken an active part in the 



campaign work of his party. From his 
childhood he has been a member of the 
Presbyterian church and has been faith- 
ful and consistent in the performance of 
his religious duties. 

William P. Taylor was a lad of but two 
years when brought by his parents to Jeff- 
erson township and his }'outhful }ears 
were spent upon the parental homestead. 
He was early initiated into the mysteries 
of agriculture and upon starting out in 
life for himself chose that occupation for 
his life pursuit. In the graded schools of 
Ossian he gained a good training and at 
the time of attaining his majority was fairly 
well equipped mentally for his life career. 
Desiring to commence operations in as fa- 
vorable a location as possible, he went on 
a trip through the west looking for a suit- 
able place, but at the end of a year re- 
turned to the old farm in Jefferson town- 
ship. His attention has been almost en- 
tirely devoted to agriculture, that most 
honorable of all employments, and by the 
exercise of those splendid qualities with 
which he was endowed he has been fairly 
successful in his calling. Starting out 
comparatively empty handed, he now pos- 
sesses a splendid farm of eighty acres, be- 
sides an interest in the homestead. He is 
thoroughly in touch with modern ideas 
touching the care of the soil, rotation of 
crops, etc., and that he gives careful atten- 
tion to the details of his business is indi- 
cated to even the casual observer by the 
splendid condition of his property and 
the abundant harvests which reward his 
efforts. 

Mr. Taylor has been twice married, 
his first companion being Miss Rachael 
Hoover, the daughter of Levi Hoover, a 



474 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



prominent farmer and stock raiser of Jef- 
ferson township. This lady died after a 
three years' union, and for liis second wife 
Mr. Taylor chose Miss Hattie Ouacken- 
bush, the daughter of Peter Ouackenbush, 
of Jefferson township, the marriage occur- 
ring December 24, 1889. To this union 
have been born two daughters, Ethel L. 
and Bertha M. 

Mr. Ouackenbush was born and reared 
in New York city and as a young man 
came to Trumbull county, Ohio, coming 
to Wells county in 1887, and secured land 
from the government. He was married in 
Allen county in 1855 to Miss Mariah Mc- 
Laughlin and both are still living, aged 
eighty-three and sixty-nine years respec- 
tively, on the farm that he had improved 
from the wilderness. His parents. Wil- 
liam and Alary Ouackenbush, had spent 
their last years with him, his mother's 
death being the last to occur in the family, the 
circle, consisting of the parents and two chil- 
dren, not being broken for nearly forty 
years. All but one of the children are 
married and all reside within an hour's 
drive of the old home. Twenty-two 
grandchildren are living to honor their an- 
cestors. 

Politically Mr. Taylor is affiliated with 
the Republican party, believing the prin- 
ciples embodied in that platform to be 
those most conducive to the best interests 
of the American people. He takes a deep 
interest in the general trend of public 
events, but does not aspire to public office 
of any nature. Mrs. Taylor is an active 
and consistent member of the Christian 
(or Disciples) church, of which society he 
is a liberal supporter. Mr. Taylor is an 
unassuming man, yet he wields a quiet 



but strong influence in his community on 
the side of right living and for all that 
tends to promote the best interests of his 
neighbors. He is widely known and by all 
is esteemed for his genuine worth. 



GEORGE W. LECHNER. 

Among the prominent citizens and 
thriving farmers of Wells county, Indiana, 
is George W. Lechner, who was born in 
Stark county, Ohio, October 27, 1847, a 
son of Jeremiah and Pollie (Chapman) 
Lechner, the former of whom was a native 
of Germany and was brought to America 
in 1834 by his parents, who 'settled in Stark 
county, Ohio, where Jeremiah Lechner 
was reared to manhood on a farm. He 
there married Pollie Chapman, who was 
born in Pennsylvania, of English descent. 
He was a carpenter by trade, but made 
agriculture his calling, and followed the 
two lines of business in conjunction until 
his death, which occurred in Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, at the age of seventy-one 
years. 

The family of Jeremiah and Pollie 
(Chapman) Lechner comprised four chil- 
dren, namely: John M., who lost his life 
in defense of his country's flag in 1863, and 
whose remains were interred in the na- 
tional burying ground at Nashville, Ten- 
nessee; George W. ; Elizabeth, wife of 
Asa King, a prominent farmer in Allen 
county. Indiana, and Joseph who died in 
childhood. 

George W. Lechner was but four years 
of age when, in 185 1, he was brought from 
Ohio to Indiana by his parents, who lo- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



475 



cated in Allen county, where the mother 
died two years later. George \\'. was then 
taken in charge by his maternal grand- 
father, George Chapman, and reared by 
him in Allen county, Indiana, and was edu- 
cated in the district schools primarily, later 
entering Ft. Wayne College, where he 
was an industrious student and supple- 
mented his school training' by self instruc- 
tion. \\'hen his mother died the three 
children were all taken by the grandpar- 
ents,' where all grew to maturity and from 
where John entered the service. Jeremiah 
Lechner returned to Ohio and resided in 
Tuscarawas county until his death. He 
resided in Allen county for a period of 
about seven years. 

At the age of nineteen George W. 
Lechner was qualified as a teacher, and 
entered the schoolroom as such, continu- 
ing to follow that profession for thirteen 
years in Allen and Wells county. 

December 25, 1870, George W. Lech- 
ner was united in marriage with Miss 
Sarah J. Gibson, daughter of John and 
Deborah (Cartwright) Gibson, of Allen 
county, where they settled in 1854 when 
siie was two years old. The family are 
John A., who was graduated from the Os- 
sian high school in 1890, has himself 
taught three terms in Wells county and 
has his home under the parental roof; Nel- 
lie D., wife of A. E. Springer, a farmer in 
Allen county, Indiana ; Bertha, married 
to Charles Kreigh, a store keeper at Echo, 
Indiana, and Arthur F. 

Mr. Lechner is a Freemason in his fra- 
ternal relations and is a member of the 
lodge at Ossian, while his religious con- 
nection is with the Little River Christian 
church. In politics he has been an active 



Democrat ever since he was entitled to 
exercise his franchise, has always been 
popular with his party, and has served as 
a member of the Wells county Democratic 
central committee from Jefiferson town- 
ship for many years. In 1902 he was 
nominated for county commissioner, and 
was triumphantly elected, and his tenure 
of office has been most satisfactory up to 
the present time. He is an earnest advo- 
cate of public improvements, believing 
that good roads, good schools and com- 
fortable county buildings are essential fac- 
tors in the advancement of a community. 
Mr. Lechner, although he began life in 
comparatively poor circumstances, has 
through his own unaided efforts become in- 
dependent, now owning one hundred and six- 
ty-five acres of productive land in Wells 
and Allen counties, the greater part of which 
is under a high state of cultivation. The es- 
teem of his fellow-citizens is altogether due 
to his personal merits, and certainly no fam- 
ily in Jefiferson township is more sincerely 
honored than that of George W. Lechner. 



LEWIS F. SXYDER. 

In the respect that is accorded to men 
who have fought their own way to success 
through unfavorable environments we find 
an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic 
worth of a character which not only can en- 
dure so rough a test, but gain new strength 
in the fire of discipline. The gentleman to 
whom the biographer now calls the reader's 
attention was unfavored by fortune, for both 
inherited wealth and the assistance of in- 
fluential friends were denied him, but in spite 



476 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



of these discouragements, by perseverance, 
industry and wise economy, he has attained 
a comfortable station in life. 

Lewis F. Snyder, one of the prominent 
farmers and residents of Jefferson township, 
Wells county, Indiana, is a son of Henry and 
Mariah (Fertic) Snyder. He claims Allen 
county, Indiana, as his birth place and first 
saw the light of day February 23. 1849. The 
Snyder family were natives of Germany, 
where the grandfather, John Snyder, was 
born and reared. He came to America with a 
party of friends and settled in Pennsylvania, 
where he married Elizabeth McDannel, of 
Scotland. John Snyder and family came to 
Jefferson township in 1839, improved a farm 
and both died at tlie home of a son-in-law in 
Allen county, aged eighty-three and sixty- 
eight years respectively. 

Henry Snyder learned the cabinetmaker's 
trade in Ohio, where he worked until he came 
to Wells county in 1837. He settled in the 
northern part of Jefferson township and 
again took up his trade. He afterward re- 
turned to Ohio, where he remained but a 
short time, and returning to Allen county, 
Indiana, he purchased a farm in 1842 and be- 
gan the life of an agriculturalist. He lived 
on this farm for some years and then went 
to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he died in 
1883. He was one of the best farmers in 
Allen county, but adverse circumstances 
caused him to lose heavily and he died as he 
had started, a poor man. He was the parent 
of ten children, of whom Lewis was the 
seventh. 

Lewis F. Snyder was the }'0ungest boy 
in a large family and at the age of seven, ow- 
ing to the death of his mother, was put out 
among strangers to make his own way, living 
with four families, mainlv with Caleb Prible 



of Allen county, until past fifteen. Then he 
was two years with his father. At the age 
of about se\'enteen, his father's family being 
broken up, Lewis was thrown entirely upon 
himself and worked at farm work in Allen 
county until the winter of 1867, when he was 
again with his father, who had married 
again and was living in Wells county. In 
the spring of 1868 he went to Iowa, sjjend- 
ing three years in that state at farm labor. 
In 1871 he and his brother Charles went to 
California, spending that season at farm 
labor, and joined a prospecting tour with a 
Los Angeles party to Arizona. After eight 
months thus spent he was left with nothing, 
having lost all his savings. The two left for 
Nevada with all they had left, a pack horse, 
where he made about one thousand dollars 
within ten months, working in a quartz mill. 
Again fortune smiled and after aii absence 
of two and one-half years he returned to 
Allen and Wells counties in 1873. In 1875 
he settled on a farm in Jefferson township, 
and in 1894 purchased his present farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres, tiiree and one- 
half miles northeast of Ossian. He has made 
extensive impro\ements, now having a large 
and imposing residence and suitable out- 
buildings. He has laid upwards of two 
thousand rods of tile, and his farm is now 
considered one of the most desirable in the 
township. He also owns other rental prop- 
erty in the vicinity. 

Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Alary 
A. Caston, a resident of Wells county and a 
farmer's daughter. Seven children were born 
to them, one of whom. Celia J., is mirried. 
being the wife of John Shultz. The others 
are Harland V.. Dora A., Leary L., Dollie. 
Chloe Ann. and Charley, who died in 1881, 
aged fifteen months. Mr. Snyder is one of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



477 



the substantial Republicans of Wells county 
and Jefferson township, but has never 
taken a very prominent part in political af- 
fairs. He is an intelligent and trustworthy 
man and one of the best citizens of the 
countv. 



EZEKIEL ROE. 



It is generally considered by those 
in the habit of superficial thinking that 
the history of so called great men only 
is worthy of preservation and that little 
merit exists among the masses to call 
forth the praises of the historian or the 
cheers and appreciation of mankind. A 
greater mistake was never made. No 
man is great in all things and very few- 
are great in many things. ^lany by a 
lucky stroke achieve lasting fame, who 
before that had no reputation beyond 
the limits of their communities. It is 
not a history of the lucky stroke that is 
of the most benefit to humanity, but the 
long study and effort which made the 
lucky stroke possible. That which serves 
as a guide for the success of others is 
the preliminary work, the method, and 
it is that which should be praised and 
commended by the historian. Among 
those in this county whose success was 
achieved along steady lines of action is 
the subject of this memoir. 

Ezekiel Roe, one of the oldest and 
most prominent settlers of Jefferson 
towmship, was born in Fayette county, 
Ohio, Alay 3, 1823, iiis parents being 
Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Funk) Roe. The 
grandfather of the subject was a native of 
Ireland. The father and mother of the 



subject were both born in Pennsylvania, 
and there grew to maturity. Eventually 
they were married and walked to Indiana, 
where they lived for several years. Final- 
ly becoming tired of frontier life, they re- 
turned to Fayette county, Ohio, and took 
up their residence. 

It was on this farm in Randolph county, 
Indiana, that the subject, Ezekiel Roe. 
was reared. The scenes of rural life be- 
came familiar to him and it is small won- 
der that he followed the life to which he 
had been born. His education was re- 
ceived in the subscription school, which 
was held in an old log building, to- 
tally devoid of even the semblance of com- 
fort. The seats were benches hewed from 
logs, unplaned and minus the backs ; each 
student took care of his books, which con- 
sisted of a slate, spelling book and arith- 
metic, by placing them on the bench be- 
side him during the day and at night piling 
them up on the common desk around the 
wall. This common desk, or rather shelf, 
for it was no more than a shelf held to 
the wall by large pegs, w'as knowm to the 
students by the dignified name of "writer's 
bench," and, armed with a quill pen and a 
copy book, each sch(_)lar laboriously fash- 
ioned the letters as the teacher dictated 
each day. Despite such disadvantages, 
3'oung Ezekiel stored his brain with much 
useful knowledge, which served him well 
in after years. He worked on the farm 
until he was of age, and then was hired by 
his father for a year at seven dollars per 
month. After working for his father for 
a year, he began to hire himself out to 
other farmers, receiving as a compensa- 
tion for his labors the paltry sunY of 
seven and nine dollars per month. Even 
with so small a salarv, he was able to lav 



478 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



aside some money and in time invested 
his earnings in an eighty-acre tract of land, 
which he entered in Union township. 
Wells county, Indiana, and which is now 
owned by John A. Walker. 

On the 4th of July, 1852, Mr. Roe was 
united in marriage with Miss Catherine 
Puterbaugh, a daughter of Jacob and Re- 
becca Puterbaugh, of Elkhart county, 
Indiana. Mrs. Roe was born in Elkhart 
count}-, her parents having moved from 
Darke county, Ohio, at an early date. The 
father died in Elkhart county and the mother 
and young daughter were left to face the 
world alone. The mother did not long 
survive her husband and at the age of six 
years Catherine was left an orphan. She 
was then taken by an older brother, who 
reared her. Her opportunities being 
limited, she was forced to neglect her edu- 
cation and at a tender age, just when 
other girls were being anxiously cared for 
by fond mothers, she went out into the 
world to make her way. This she did by 
working by the week, receiving but 
seventy-five cents per week, and was able 
e\en with so meager a compensation to 
e\-entually save thirty-two dollars by the 
time she was married. Shortly after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Roe moved to a 
farm in the woods of Union township, 
where the young husband set to work to 
clear enough ground to enable him to 
make a living. In 1839. after he had suc- 
ceeded in clearing his land until it was in 
good condition for cultivation, he sold his 
farm and bought one hundred and sixty 
acres of uncleared land one-half mile north 
of Ossian. This land he improved and 
here he reared his family until, one by one, 
the birds left the nest, and now only the 
parents are left in the old home. Eight 



children, seven of whom are living, were 
born to them : Addison died at the age of 
eighteen years ; Andrew is a farmer in 
Jefferson township; Mary is the wife of 
J. S. Krewson: Maggie is the wife of 
Allison Bowman; Arthur F. is a farmer of 
Jefiferson township ; Anna is the wife of 
Joel Hunter; Ama is the wife of D. C. 
Gorrell, and Hampton is a merchant of 
Ossian, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Roe are 
members of the German Baptist church 
and are active in church work. His entire 
life has been spent in active work and 
politics has for many years opened an 
avenue for this activity. The Democratic 
party has always profited by the subject's 
political efforts and he is counted by the 
party as one of its most faithful followers. 
j\Ir. and Mrs. Roe are among the best 
citizens of Jefiferson township, where they 
have resided most of their lives. They are 
a worthy couple, and no fitter compliment 
can be paid them than that given by their 
neighbors, who join in bestowing upon 
them their highest praise. 



NICHOLAS W. SHORTS. 

One of the respected of the younger 
generations of Jefferson township is 
Nicholas W. Shorts, the present township 
trustee, who was born in Lucas county, 
Ohio, May 19, 1855, and is a son of Hu- 
bert and Mary M. (Luther) Shorts. The 
father was born in Metz, Alsace, France, 
but to avoid service in the army of Louis 
Napoleon he turned his eyes toward the 
republic of America, coming hither in 

1843- 

Hubert Shorts was a pianomaker by 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



479 



trade and had worked as a journeyman 
for four years prior to coming to America, 
but on arriving in this country engaged in 
farming. On the breaking out of the war 
with Mexico, Mr. Shorts enhsted in the 
Fifteenth Regiment, United States Vol- 
unteers, and served under Gen. Zachary 
Taylor until the war closed, when he was 
honorably discharged, with a pension of 
twenty-four dollars per month on account 
of disabilities sustained. He then settled 
in Ohio and learned the stonecutter's 
trade. He was married at Clyde. San- 
dusky county, Ohio, his bride being a na- 
tive of that state, but of French parent- 
age. In politics Hubert Shorts was a 
Democrat and in religion was a Catholic 
and in this faith he was called away at 
the age of sixty-five. Hubert Shorts and 
wife were blessed with ten children, of 
whom two died in infancy. The survivors 
all live in Ohio with the exception of 
Nicholas W. and a sister who has resi- 
dence in Allen county. 

Nicholas W. Shorts was educated in 
the schools of his native village and be- 
gan his business life in a general country 
store, whence he went into a slack barrel 
factory. 'in which he worked until he was 
twenty years of age. He then, in 1875, 
came to Indiana and lived in Allen county 
until 1886, when he came to Wells county 
to make his home. He was married in 
Allen county, April 26, 1877, to Miss Mary 
A. Kreigh, daughter of Samuel Kreigh, a 
pioneer and now residing at Walkerville, 
Michigan. She was born in Jefferson 
township. Wells county. Being in but in- 
different circumstances at the date of his 
marriage, Mr. Shorts went to work in a 
saw-mill and succeeded in accumulating a 



little money, and was then appointed a 
mail-carrier on a star route, which position 
he held for three years. When he settled 
in \\'ells county he began farming, but 
subsequently sold his farm in Jefferson 
township and, in November, 1901, pur- 
chased his present farm of eighty-live 
acres, one and a half miles northeast of 
Ossian. Here he has since conducted gen- 
eral farming and has devoted considerable 
attention also to stock raising, in which he 
has been very successful, and his farm is 
one of the most productive, according to 
its size in the township. He has improved 
it with all modern conveniences and it pre- 
sents an attractive appearance to the pass- 
er-by or the welcomed guest, yet its chief 
interest lies in the products reaped from 
its well tilled fields. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Nicholas W. Shorts have been born six 
children, of whom one died in infancy, 
the survivors being Zulu, wife of D. B. 
Davidson, who lives in Jefferson town- 
ship. Earl, Fern, Hilma and Mary. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shorts are members 
of the Elhanan Presbyterian church, in 
which he is an elder. Fraternally he is a 
Knight of Pythias and politically he is a 
Democrat. He was elected trustee of 
Jefferson township in 1900 and has since 
filled the position with great credit to him- 
self and to the entire satisfaction of the 
community. Jefferson township has thir- 
teen school houses, with eighteen teach- 
ers, six. being in the township graded 
school at Ossian. All the houses are 
brick, one being erected by Mr. Shorts in 
district No. i, at a cost of three thousand 
dollars and includes all modern conven- 
iences. He is giving special attention to 
the betterment of the roads, the township 



48o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



now having twenty-one miles graveled and 
turned over to the county and five miles in 
process of construction. 

Mr. Shorts is a quiet, unassuming 
gentleman, but is public spirited, and ever 
ready to aid with his means all improve- 
ments conducive to the comfort and wel- 
fare of his fellow citizens, by whom he and 
family are held in the utmost esteem. 



JOHN D. DETTMER. 

There is nothing that interests one 
more than to observe how different men 
begin and continue the duties of life. 
Hesitation marks the beginning of some 
and every obstacle which they encounter 
seems to them insurmountable. Others 
begin boldly, but after a time some defect 
in execution stamps them as unfit for the 
task to which they have set themselves. 
Others, again, commence with a steady 
grasp of the situation and show by their 
subsequent accomplishments that they 
have mastered the problem of life : to this 
latter class always comes success, and they 
are the men who leave Isehind them good 
names and large properties honorably won 
in life's battles. 

Of the old citizens and residents of 
Jefferson township. Wells county, Indiana, 
none are more respected than John D. 
Dettmer, who was born to John D. and 
Sophia (Bachman) Dettmer, in Germany, 
August 15, .T823. The Dettmer family 
were farmers in their native land and their 
son was given a thorough training in farm 
work before he came to America. He at- 
tended the common schools of his mother 



country until he was fourteen years old, 
having succeeded in that time in obtain- 
ing a fair education, and at this age he be- 
gan to work out by the year, receiving six 
dollars per year and his clothes. Later 
his wages were increased to eight dollars 
and he continued to work in this way until 
his salary amounted to eighteen dollars 
per year. When he was twenty-eight 
years old he concluded to come to Ameri- 
ca and try his fortune in the new land. He 
reached New York in September, 185 1, 
and soon obtained employment on a dairy 
farm. 'He stayed on this farm for five 
months, receiving twenty dollars per 
month as a remuneration for his labors. 
Later he left the dairy farm and again 
found employment as a farm hand in New 
York at nineteen dollars per month, 
working for such wages for fifteen years. 
In March, 1855, he married Miss Mary 
Englehart, who was also born in Ger- 
many and came to America in 1852. After 
his marriage he worked by the month and 
saved a considerable amount of his wages. 
In 1867 he came to Wells county, after 
having saved fourteen hundred dollars, 
which he immediately converted into farm 
land where he now lives, part of which was 
then in the woods. He cleared and im- 
proved his property, adding to it until he 
owned two hundred and twenty acres of 
fine farm land, all of which he made him- 
self. Of this he now has one hundred 
and four acres in the home farm, three 
miles northwest of Ossian ; -the remainder 
he gave to his son, John E. Dettmer, who 
now has a very desirable farm. Four 
girls and one son were born to him and 
his wife : Mary, wife of Leonard Springer ; 
Anna, wife of Charles Larman; Julia, de- 




JOHN D. DETTMER AND WIFE. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



481 



ceased ; Maggie, wife of Andy Springer. 
and John E., the only son, who was born 
in Orange county, New York, married Ida 
Maky and has eight children. 

St. Mark's German Lutlieran church of 
Allen county enrolls the Dettmer family 
among its members and more faithful 
workers she can not boast. Mr. Dettmer 
has been trustee and elder and discharged 
his duties honorably and to the entire satis- 
faction of the congregation. His political 
allegiance has always been given to the 
Republican party, which has been much 
benefited by his ardent work. With him 
politics comes second only to religion and 
he can always be found actively engaged in 
political work when his party is in need 
of his assistance. He is known as an hon- 
est, genial citizen with whom it is a pleas- 
ure to have business dealings, and he is 
held in the highest respect by the residents 
of Jefferson township. 



JOHN NIRITER. 

When the eyes of a child open here 
on earth for the first time, it would require 
a very potent spirit of prophecy to predict 
where, upon the face of the earth, it will 
be when the time comes for it to close 
its eyes in death. The subject of this 
sketch, John Niriter, was born in Hesse, 
Germany, September 21, 1827. At that 
time nearly every one of his ancestors for 
perhaps twenty generations had been 
born, lived and died in that country and 
there seemed little doubt, at that time, 
that the life of the infant would be spent 
very much as had been spent the lives of 



nearly all of his predecessors. But fate 
had a far less monotonous career in store 
for him, which began to develop when the 
lad was but seven years old. 

The parents of John Niriter were 
George and Elizabeth (Pepler) Niriter. 
Nine years of the life of George Niriter 
had been spent as a soldier, fighting the 
battles of people in whom he had little if 
any interest. The latter part of the 
eighteenth and early part of the nine- 
teenth century were fertile and prolific of 
wars. It includes the period of our own 
Revolution, the French Revolution, the 
Napoleonic wars, our second encounter 
with England and numerous other minor 
events of sanguinary strife. During the 
fifty years included in this period the 
world seemed to think of nothing but war 
and bloodshed. Rulers appeared to think 
that men were made for no other purpose 
than to bleed and die in the settlement of 
trivial grievances of state. It was the 
misfortune of George Niriter, the father of 
the subject, to live during this period and 
to be obliged to take part in much of the 
strife. Part of the time of his military 
life was spent in the ranks of the legions 
who fought under Napoleon. During the 
peace which followed the decisive battle 
of Waterloo, he returned to his home w^ith 
purpose of marrying and settling down to 
domestic happiness. He married Elizabeth 
Pepler, went to housekeeping and reared 
a family. But the spirit of adventure that 
had been bred within him during the wars 
could not be suppressed though he fought 
against it valiantly. He finally decided to 
move his family, which then consisted of 
a wife and five children, to America and 
seek his fortune in the new republic. Ac- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



cordingly, in 1834, they crossed the ocean 
and without much delay penetrated into 
the middle of the wilderness, locating in 
x\llen county, Indiana, near Ft. Wayne. 
There was very little in the place then to in- 
dicate that it would ever be a city. John 
Niriter, although but seven years old at 
the time, well remembers that the town 
then consisted of three stores, a few mean 
looking dwellings, a log jail and a small 
court house that, judging from its appear- 
ance, few would accuse of being a temple 
of justice. At that time the Wabash & 
Erie canal was in course of construction 
and most of the early settlers availed 
themselves of the opportunity of making 
a little ready money by working on the 
canal. George Niriter had a wife and seven 
children to support, hence, although an 
ex-soldier of Napoleon, he was not above 
wielding a shovel and pick in the interest 
of the inmates of his home. He continued 
in the work, making fair wages, until he 
had saved enough to purchase forty acres 
of land nine miles south of Ft. Wayne. On 
it he built a cabin in which to live and had 
partially cleared it when he got an oppor- 
tunity of selling out, which he did, and 
with the proceeds bought one hundred and 
sixty acres of land farther out. This he 
cleared, improved and occupied until his 
death. He and his wife were the parents 
of six children, only one of whom was 
born in America. Of these only three, 
Jonathan, Hartman and John, now sur- 
vive, the latter the only one who resides 
in Wells county. 

John Niriter was a small boy when his 
father located in Fort Wayne. He had 
never attended a school in his native land, 
and Indiana had not at that time acquired 



a reputation as an educational center. Oc- 
casionally a term of school was held at Ft. 
\\'a}-ne. but the diffident and backward 
children of George Niriter did not get 
over their timidity at the strangeness of 
the new country until they had moved 
away from the little town. Hence the 
education of the children was limited, but 
they were apt and intelligent and made 
up in observation, experience and com- 
mon sense what was denied them in book 
learning. 

When John Niriter was twelve years 
old he was taken by Hartman Smith, a 
farmer of Wells county and a friend of the 
Niriter family. He remained in the fam- 
ily of Mr. Smith until he was twenty-one 
years of age when, as a part of his wages, 
he was given fort}- acres of land situated 
in Jefferson township, which now consti- 
tutes a part of his present farm. On this 
tract only four acres were then cleared, but 
it has been added to until the farm now 
comprises one hundred two and a half 
acres and is as well improved as any tract 
of land in the vicinity. 

In 1857, when he was thirty years of 
age, John Niriter was united in marriage 
to Miss Caroline Rapp. She lived only 
long enough to present him with two chil- 
dren, both of whom are still living, mar- 
ried and enjoying domestic happiness 
of their own. They are Rosa, wife of 
Walter Clark, and Charles, who married 
Lizzie Keigh. The second wife of Mr. 
Niriter was Miss Ellen Ferguson, daugh- 
ter of Thomas Ferguson, and they were 
united in marriage October 20, 1870. She 
was born in Jefiferson township, March 23, 
1840. Her father had settled on that farm 
in 1838, coming from Canada, though a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



483 



native of Scotland. He was married at Ft. 
Wayne to Jennette Youie. a native of 
Glasgow, Scotland. Two children have 
also been born to this marriage of the sub- 
ject: Andrew J., who married Miss Mar- 
garet Woodside and resides on the old 
farm, and his two children, Florence and 
an infant ; and Jeanette, a student of elo- 
cution in Ft. \\'ayne. 

In politics John Xiriter is a Democrat 
and, while a believer in the Democratic 
doctrine of "a tariff for revenue only," he 
is by no means one of those who take part 
in politics "for revenue only." The only 
public office he ever filled was that of road 
supervisor for two terms, and even that 
was not sought but thrust upon him. In 
religion he and wife are Presbyterians, be- 
longing to the church at Elhanan, and 
liberally contributing to the support of 
that denomination. In Jefferson township 
the greater part of the Hfe of John Niriter 
has been spent and there the people know 
him as an honest, upright citizen, a man 
whose word is never questioned. Here 
he is spending his declining years in ease 
and comfort, having accumulated enough 
to keep him far above want. As to the 
land of his nativity, he knows little and 
cares less. Every interest that he has is 
centered here in America and no doubt 
when his final summons comes it will find 
him here and readv. 



FREDERICK RAPP. 

Reared in the earlier days, when 
schools were few and an uncleared farm 
stared the settler in the face, it is little 



wonder that the majority of our pioneers 
had little time for school or books. But 
after the woodland had been converted in- 
to fields of waving grain and the little fam- 
ily had grown away from the grinding 
hardships of early life, then it was that the 
father set himself assiduously to work to 
rectify the_ neglect of his boyhood and in 
most cases he succeeded beyond his ex- 
pectations. Frederick Rapp was born to 
Frederick and Rosanna Rapp in Wurtem- 
berg, Germany, August 21, 1839. The 
Rapp family came to America and settled 
in Erie county, New York, where the 
father bought forty acres of land. Later 
he sold this and in 1853 brought his wife 
and children to Jefferson township, where 
he took one hundred acres of land in sec- 
tion I, which was partially cleared. He 
and his family lived on this farm until the 
death of the parents. Mr. Rapp was a 
C(uiet, unassuming man, who had a good 
education in German and believed that 
each man could take care of his own busi- 
ness better than could his neighbor.- Act- 
ing on this principle, he won many friends, 
whom he was able to assist with his ad- 
vice. Eight children were the fruits of 
this union, four of whom are now living. 

Frederick Rapp was reared in Ger- 
many, in New York and in Indiana. At an 
early age he helped clear their farm and 
later to cultivate it. His attendance at 
school was irregular, owing to the neces- 
sity of his being at work in the fields, his 
early education being thus much neglect- 
ed. He remained beneath his father's roof 
until after he was twenty-one, having 
farmed the place for a few years. Miss 
Sarah Stites became his wife January 22, 
1869. She w-as born to Peter and Chris- 



484 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tena (Hickler) Stites in Summit county, 
Ohio, March 12, 1844, and came with her 
parents to Wells county when she was a 
young girl. Four children blessed their 
union, namely: Effie A., Edna A., deceased, 
Jennie I., and Maud Pearl, deceased. Both 
Effie and Jennie were given the best ad- 
vantages of the county schools and are Hv- 
ing at home. Sometime after his marriage 
Mr. Rapp purchased eighty acres and es- 
tablished a home where he has since re- 
sided. He and wife and family are mem- 
bers of Bethlehem Evangelical church, 
the father being a trustee of the church, 
while the daughter, ]\Iiss Jennie, is the 
present organist, which position she has 
held for several years. In politics Mr. 
Rapp is a Republican, though before the 
war he voted with the Democratic party. 
The family are well and favorably known 
in this part of W'ells county and have the 
highest esteem of their acquaintances and 
neighbors. 



LUDWIG MYERS. 

To the ranks of the noble and useful 
belongs the subject of this sketch, Ludwig 
Myers. Reared on the frontier, without 
the advantages of a fine education, he has 
come to the front, not with the blare of 
the trumpets of fame, but with the milder 
tones of genuine nobility. Ludwig Myers, 
one of the old residents of Jefferson town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, is a son of 
Christian V. and Elizabeth (Leibrandt) 
Myers and was born in Seneca county, 
Ohio, April 13, 1836. He is of sturdy Ger- 
man descent, both parents having been 
born in the old country. Christian Myers 



was reared in Germany and came to 
America after he had reached manhood. 
He had a thorough knowledge of German 
and Latin, having been educated for the 
ministry, but he had no heart in his call- 
ing and later learned the cooper's trade, 
at which he worked until 1830, when he 
came to America. He first brought his 
wife and little family to Ohio and settled 
in Seneca county on a small farm, where 
he lived until 1838. when he came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and entered land from the 
government. This land lies in section 6, 
range 13, and at the time of his entering 
it it was covered with timber. The neigh- 
bors were few and lived miles away and 
the family lived a lonely life in their new 
home. He cleared his land with the aid 
of his boys, who were left to do most of 
the work, while their father worked at his 
trade. By hard work the family managed 
to get on in the world and as time passed 
really came to love the isolation of their 
life. The children had excellent home 
training and the family grew to be one of 
affluence. The father was a member of 
the Albright Evangelical church. To 
Christian and Elizabeth Myers were born 
seven children, only one of whom, Ludwig, 
lives in Wells county. 

Ludwig Myers was reared on his 
father's farm and attended the subscrip- 
tion schools, thus getting a limited, but 
practical education. He was given all the 
advantages which the limitations of the 
country would permit and made the best 
of his means. Although his knowledge of 
books was not very extensive, he was 
thoroughly versed in the ways of farm 
life and knew just how to clear the land 
and make rails. At this he was an expert. 



WELLS COUNTY, IXDL\NA. 



485 



but mechanical work had more fascination 
for him and he learned the cabinetmaker's 
trade in Noble county, devoting himself 
to carpentering after the death of his 
father in 1855. 

December 15. 1S59, Mr. Myers was 
married to ]\Iiss Agnes Ferguson, daugh- 
ter of James and Eliza (Hume) Ferguson, 
who was born near Quebec, Canada, Feb- 
ruary 23, 1838. When she was three 
months old she came to Indiana with her 
parents, who first settled in Fort \\'ayne, 
and later, in 1840. moved to Jefferson 
township, \\'ells county, Lidiana, where 
they lived until their deaths. She received 
her early training in the subscription and 
common schools and had sufficient educa- 
tion to teach one term. After their mar- 
riage ]\Ir. and Airs. Myers went onto the 
home farm, but in May, 1869, they moved 
to their present farm, which was only par- 
tially cleared. He has made some im- 
provements, run ditches and by dint of 
hard work has made of his one hundred 
acres one of the model farms of the town- 
ship. Nine children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. ]\Iyers, five of whom are living:. 
\\'illiam, though farming near by, is still 
at home ; Charley, who is married to Jose- 
phine Morton and operates the old home 
farm, has four children, Forrest Ludwig, 
Charles Everett. Cora Agnes and Opal 
May. Luella is the wife of Charles Ball 
and lives in Fort Wayne ; Edna, wife of 
Richard Morton, also lives in Fort Wayne, 
and Edith is the wife of Joseph Steinbau- 
cher. In political issues Mr. Myers has 
always voted independently in local affairs, 
but in national afifairs he is a Republican. 
Mr. and Mrs. Myers are old and respected 
residents of Jefferson township, where 



they have spent most of their lives, and, 
being members of the Presbyterian 
church at Elhanan, are much esteemed, 



JOHN M. SPRINGER. 

A native of Germany, born January 
27, 1828, John M. Springer is now one of 
the prosperous farmers and prominent 
citizens of Jefferson township. He is a 
son of George L. and Maria C. (Mince) 
Springer, who were agriculturists, al- 
though he was also a blacksmith. They 
were the parents of six children, who in 
order of birth were named as follows : 
George L., John M., George i\I.. Chris- 
tina Barbara and Catherine, of whom 
Catherine is the wife of Conrad Theely 
and lives in Allen county, Indiana. 

John M. Springer received a fair edu- 
cation in his native land and there also 
learned the weaver's trade, at which he 
worked as a journeyman three years, serv- 
ing, like all German young men. the re- 
quired si-x years in the regular army. In 
1858 he came to America and reached 
Pleasant township in June. He was ten 
dollars in debt, and worked at any thing 
he could find to do for four years, when 
he resumed his trade of weaver. August 
I. 1858, he married Miss Eva ]\I. Fuchs- 
luber, who was also born in Germany and 
came to Wells county with her parents in 
1 83 1. To secure his marriage license Mr. 
Springer was compelled to borrow money, 
which he paid from his earnings at the 
looms. He now owns two hundred and 
ninety-four acres in Allen and Wells coun- 
ties, worth at least twenty thousand dol- 



486 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



lars, and tlius presents another instance 
of what industry and persistent efifort can 
accompHsh under free institutions and by 
men who have a will of their own and or- 
dinary intelligence. 

To John M. and Eva M. Springer have 
been born six children, of whom two 
died young, the survivors being Frederick, 
who is a farmer in Jef?erson township 
and is married to Margaret Springer; Dan- 
iel, who is married to Rosa Laringler and 
lives in Allen county ; Maria, wife of Hen- 
ry Helsmael. of Fort Wayne, and David, 
who is still at home. Mr. Springer is a 
devout and consistent member of the Lu- 
theran church in Pleasant township, is an 
elder and has held some of^ces of more or 
less importance in the church for the past 
forty years. He takes no active part in 
political affairs, but his proclivities are de- 
cidedly Democratic. He has never felt 
any ambition to hold public office, but has 
devoted himself to the industrial pursuits 
which have resulted in placing him in the 
foremost rank of the agriculturists of 
Wells county and in making him one of its 
most substantial citizens. Although Mr. 
Springer never thrusts himself forward 
as an intermeddler in public affairs, he is 
public spirited and is ever ready to aid 
financially in promoting such public im- 
provements .as will conduce to the benefit 
of all his neighbors, by whom he is held 
in the highest possible esteem. His farm, 
while one of the largest, is also one of the 
best cultivated and one of the best im- 
proved in Wells county and is the pride of 
the neighborhood. Mr. Springer has led 
a straightforward and industrious Hfe and 
has ever had in view some useful purpose. 
Frivolities have never had a charm for 



him, though he is a good natured gentleman, 
a genial companion and a charitable, open- 
handed, open-hearted citizen, and well de- 
serves the high respect in which he is held 
by old and }'oung, rich and poor. 



JOHN C. DEAM. 

Prominent among the farmers and citi- 
zens of Jefferson township is John C. 
Deam, son of James and Ruth (McDow- 
ell) Deam, who was born on a farm one 
mile south of Ossian July 9, 1847. James 
Deam was a descendant of John A. Deam, 
who was a pioneer settler in Harrison 
township, Wells county, in 1836. He was 
born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 
1820 and came to Wells county when he 
was but sixteen years old. He lived on 
the old farm with his father until 1844, 
when he was married. His father gave 
him one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in Wells county which he had entered 
from the government and to this home 
he brought his bride: He built a log cabin, 
cleared a small patch and entered upon 
the life of a frontierman. On this farm he 
lived until his death, in 1883. At that 
time he owned four hundred and twenty 
acres of land, besides considerable other 
property, as he was a natural financier. 
He was an active man in public affairs and 
ever ready to promote all public improve- 
ments. He cast his vote with the Demo- 
cratic party and was a stanch supporter 
of its platform. Both he and his wife 
were members of the Presbyterian church. 
Mrs. Deam lived but two years after the 
demise of her husband, her death occur- 
ring in 1885. They were the parents of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



487 



nine children: Elizabeth, John C, Cathe- 
rine, Belle, George, Mary, Emma, Adam 
and Madison. 

John C. Deam attended the county 
schools and assisted his father until he was 
twenty-three years old. September i, 
1870, he became the husband of Miss 
Amanda Beardsley, who was the daughter 
of Calvin and Elizabeth (Wilch) Beards- 
ley, and was born in Bluffton, Indiana, 
July 8. 1853. Her education was received 
in the graded schools and for some time 
she was a teacher in the schools of Jeffer- 
son township. Her father, a wagonmaker 
by trade, served during the Civil war in the 
Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment. 

Mr. Deam started with but forty acres 
of land, but by careful management and 
industry he has added one hundred and 
sixty more acres to his farm. Most of 
his money was made from hogs, they be- 
ing his principle source of income. Mr. 
and Mrs. Deam are the parents of nine 
children, eight of whom are living : Grace 
is the wife of Bert Archbold; Lulu, the 
wife of A. Wilson Hoopengartner, was a 
teacher in the Wells county schools for 
eight years ; \\'arner graduated from the 
Ossian high school, taught for a time and 
was sergeant of Company F, One Hun- 
dred and Sixtieth Indiana Regiment, dur- 
ing the Spanish-American war. At pres- 
ent he holds a responsible position with a 
telephone company in the South ; Charles 
was a corporal in the same company and 
is now at home assisting in the operation 
of his father's farm ; Marion, a graduate 
of the Ossian high school, is teaching in 
an adjoining district; Augusta, who grad- 
uated from the Ossian high school with 
the class of 1902; Areta and Hugh. They 



are members of the Presbyterian church 
at Ossian, both Mr. and Mrs. Deam being 
workers in the church and exerting a 
healthy influence upon their associates. 
Politically Mr. Deam is a Democrat 
and has always been an active worker in 
his party, serving it as committeeman and 
delegate to conventions, and holds the re- 
spect and confidence of his associates to 
a high degree. Mr. and ]\Irs. Deam are 
among the progressive and influential 
people of JefTerson township and take a 
prominent part in both the social and po- 
litical affairs of this community. They 
are excellent neighbors and superior citi- 
zens, being held in the highest esteem by 
all within a wide circle of acquaintances. 



GEORGE R. NEVIUS. 

George R. Nevius, son of James and 
Nancy (McClelland) Nevius, was born in 
Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, Virginia 
(now West Virginia), December 22, 1842. 
James Nevius was a native of Rockbridge 
county, Virginia, but was of New Jersey 
parentage, the family having settled in 
Virginia in an early day where his father 
was a slaveholder and by trade a black- 
smith. He died in the Old Dominion in 
1840, his widow surviving him for ten 
years. In 1842 James Nevius removed to 
Charleston, West Virginia, where he was 
employed at his trade of blacksmith. He 
was a man of great physical strength and 
for a number of years was accustomed to 
work nineteen hours per day. He was of 
the strictest integrity and for half a cen- 
tury was a member of the Presbyterian 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



church, in the faitli of which he died in 
1882. His family numbered nine children, 
of whom five are still living. George R. 
being the only resident of Wells county. 

George R. Nevius was educated in the 
military school at Charlottesville, Vir- 
ginia, after an attendance in an academy 
at Washington Court House, Ohio. In 
1 86 1 he came to southern Indiana and 
September 21,, 1862, enlisted at Brook- 
ville in the First Indiana Cavalry and 
fought in the Missouri campaigns under 
Gens. Fremont and Curtis. He was a 
true soldier, never shirking his duty, and 
took part in all the marches, skirmishes 
and battles in which his regiment was en- 
gaged, his service expiring while stationed 
at Helena, Arkansas. On his discharge, 
in 1864, he located in Franklin county, 
Indiana, where he was engaged in farm- 
ing for a short time and then for two years 
was a grain dealer at Oxford, Ohio, and 
then embarked in the same business at 
New Castle, Indiana, where he had an ex- 
tensive trade. 

In 1869 Mr. Nevius came to Green- 
wood, Wells county, and conducted a lu- 
crative lumber trade until 1896, operating 
a saw-mill here for nearly thirty years. 
Mr. Nevius was united in marriage De- 
cember 24, 1863. with Miss Emma Mur- 
phy, of Franklin county, Indiana, and to 
this union four children have been born, 
namely: Ida, who is the wife of C. W. 
Eastman, of Winchester, Indiana; Bur- 
ton B., the present marshal of Hunting- 
ton, Indiana; Minnie, wife of Woodson 
Archbold, and James D.. who is a fireman 
on the Erie railroad. 

George R. Nevius held allegiance for 
many years to the Republican party, 



though exercising his own common sense 
and right to think for himself, he decided, 
in 1896, to support the Democratic party, 
though he today is what may be termed 
an independent. He is plain and straight- 
forward in expressing his views and is 
thus termed a plain-spoken man ; but what 
he says is based upon sound, logical rea- 
soning. He judges for himself and is will- 
ing to grant the same privilege to every- 
body else, but never indulges a sense of 
animosity on account of a difference in 
honest convictions. 



THOMAS W. ARCHBOLD. 

It is always pleasant and profitable to 
contemplate the career of a man who has 
made a success of life and won the honor and 
respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the 
record of the well known farmer whose 
name heads this sketch, than whom a 
more whole-souled or popular man it 
would be hard to find within the limits of 
the township in which he resides. He is 
one of the old settlers of Jefferson town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, and was born 
to Joseph and Elwyla (Van Horn) Arch- 
bold, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Octo- 
ber 4, 1834. The Archbold family are of 
Irish descent, the grandfather, Patrick 
Archbold, having been born and reared in 
that country. In early manhood he emi- 
grated to America, the Mecca for all ex- 
panding young life, and settled in Harri- 
son county. Ohio, where he met and mar- 
ried Miss Francina McClain, a fellow coun- 
try-woman. Becoming dissatisfied with 
his life in Ohio, he brought his wife to 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^^^NA. 



489 



Jefferson township, Indiana, in the spring 
of 1848, remaining here nntii liis death at up- 
wards of eighty years old. Joseph x\rch- 
bold had come to Jefferson township in 
October, 1847, j"st one year before the 
emigration of his father, and entered land 
in section thirty and immediately began 
to improve it, residing there until his 
death. He had alwa_\'s been a hard work- 
ing man and it was owing to his industry 
that during his life he was able to accumu- 
late a comfortable fortune, being the pos- 
sessor of one hundred and fifty-two acres 
of fine farm land. He was a Presbyterian 
of strict belief and died in the faith which 
in life he had supported. His children 
numbered fourteen, nine daughters and 
five sons, namely: Isaac, Patrick, William 
J., Thomas W., Rachael, Lucinda and Ma- 
linda (twins), Francina, Lucina, Catha- 
rine, Elizabeth, Ellen and Barbara. Bar- 
bara was the most fortunate member of 
this large family of children. Being the 
youngest, she was able to obtain many 
educational advantages which were de- 
nied the others and it was through the 
efforts of her brother, Thomas, that her 
education was cared for. For some time 
she followed the vocation of teaching with 
success and always looked to her brother 
who had been the means of obtaining for 
her the advantage of an education, as her 
best friend and guide. She is now the 
wife of John Engle. 

Thomas W. Archbold was reared on 
his father's farm and, owing to a large 
family of which he was one of the eldest, 
he received almost no education. In 
those days the older boys were kept at 
home clearing the farm and tending the 
crops in order that the family might ex- 



ist in the great wilderness and he was.no 
exception to the rule for he kept steadily 
at work on the home place, carefully nur- 
turing his longing for the knowledge that 
had been denied him, until he was twenty- 
six years old, when he took a short term 
with M. C. Blue as teacher and later en- 
tered the Roanoke Academy, where he 
attended three terms, getting a sufficient 
education to enable him to teach in the 
common schools of \\'ells county. He 
continued to teach in the Jeft'erson town- 
ship schools for ten years. 

March 14, 1867, Mr. Archbold was 
married to Miss Matilda C. Miller, daugh- 
ter of Henry and Xancy (Kunkel) Miller. 
Mrs. Archbold was born in Crawford 
county, Ohio, in 1850 and had received a 
common school education. They were 
the parents of seven children : Alonzo 
H., resides at Markle, Indiana; Nancy, 
wife of N. O. Hildenbrand ; Lydia, wife 
of Charles Crowel ; Clayton, \\'illiam, 
Stella and Clifton. 

Mr. Archbold was poor when he mar- 
ried, having only a small farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres which he sold and 
later purchased the old Johnson farm two 
and one-half miles south of Ossian where 
he now resides. His advancement was 
due not to a lucky stroke of fickle fortune, 
but by his own untiring efforts and his de- 
termination to win. He was a teamster 
for one year during the Civil war. In the 
early days he had been a great hunter and 
trapper in Wells county, especially along 
the Eight Mile. He is a most moral man 
and, while not a church worker, having 
never united with any denomination, yet 
he commends all good works be they of 
a religious or secular nature. In political 



490 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



affairs he has ever been identified with 
the Democratic party, being an active and 
ardent worker for the cause, ahhough 
never having been an office seeker. He 
was at one time a member of the Wells 
county central committee and has also 
served on the election board for twenty- 
five years. He is not only well and favor- 
ably known in Jefferson township but 
throughout Wells county. He is known 
as a man of unimpeachable honor and in- 
tegrity, honest motives and intelligence. 
He is one of the best citizens of the county 
and enjoys the highest regards of his ac- 
quaintances. 



EVAN L. CHALFANT. 

This prominent and widely known 
young agriculturist, journalist and teach- 
er, is now considered one of the most 
prosperous and successful farmers in Jeff- 
erson township. He was born in Craw- 
ford county, Pennsylvania, ]March 22, 
1859, and the first eight years of his life 
were spent amongst the hills and streams 
of that state. In 1867 he came with his par- 
ents, James and Amanda H. (Barber) Chal- 
fant, to Wells county, Indiana. After com- 
pleting the common school studies, and some 
of the higher branches in the Ossian 
graded schools, he began to teach, which 
occupation he followed in Wells county 
for nineteen years, meantime being en- 
gaged in his father's saw-mill and being 
familiar with all departments, especially 
that of head sawyer. He then settled 
down to what he considers his life occu- 
pation, farming. He takes great interest 



in this, his chosen calling, reads many 
farm journals and books on agricultural 
subjects and is also a contributor to sev- 
eral farm papers. At the present time he 
is chairman of the Wells County Farmers' 
Institute Association. He is also a jus- 
tice of the peace, having been elected the 
second time to that position as the nomi- 
nee of the Republican party. 

In the month of May, 1886, Evan L. 
Chalfant was united in marriage to Miss 
Flora E. Benedict, daughter of Luther 
and Julia Benedict, and who also for elev- 
en years had been a teacher in the public 
schools. They have one child, Beth E. 
Mr. Chalfant and wife are members of 
the Kingsland Presbyterian church, of 
which he is an elder and trustee, clerk of 
the session and secretary of the congre- 
gation. They are both likewise teachers 
in the Sunday school, of which he was su- 
]3erinteiident for some years, Mrs. Chal- 
fant of the primary class and he of the 
young ladies' Bible class. Of fraternal or- 
ders Mr. Chalfant is a member of the Un- 
iondale Lodge. K. P., and of the Ossian 
Lodge K. O. T. M. 

Air. and ]\Irs. Chalfant mingle with the 
best people of Jefferson township and 
Wells county, by whom they are greatly 
esteemed and with whom his graphic and 
trenchant pen wields a potent influence. 
His habits of close observation and his 
retentive memory are valuable aids in the 
preparation of his numerous contributions 
to the press. These articles are read with 
interest by all on account of lucidity of 
expression and valuable informatidn 
which they impart to the reader and seek- 
er after agricultural knowledge, and are also 
widely quoted. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



491 



WILLIA^I G. ARCHBOLD. 

Among the prominent farmers of Jeffer- 
son township. Wells county, Indiana, is Wil- 
liam G. Archbold, who was born in Tuscara- 
was county, Ohio, July 6, 1839, and is a son 
of John and Elizabeth (Gibson) Archbold, 
who came respectively from Ohio and Penn- 
sylvania families. They were married in Tus- 
carawas county, coming subsequently to In- 
diana and locating in Adams county, where 
John Archbold purchased two hundred and 
five acres of wild land, which he partially 
cleared and to a great extent improved, but 
later removed to Decatur, Indiana, where 
they passed the remainder of their days. 

William G. Archbold was reared on the 
farm on which his parents settled and was 
well trained in the details of agriculture, 
though his opportifnities for a scholastic 
training were somewhat meager. Neverthe- 
less he acquired a sufficient knowledge of 
books to qualify him for a good position in 
society and for the understanding of every- 
thing that' books could impart touching his 
calling and the current events of the day as 
recorded by the press. 

]Mr. Archbold was first married, in 1863, 
to Miss Elmira Ruby, a native of Ohio, but 
who was early brought to Indiana by her 
parents. To this union \yere born two chil- 
dren, namely: James W., who married Min- 
nie Mills, and lives in Union township, and 
Marv E., now the wife of A. E. Ormsby, of 
Union township, and has four children liv- 
ing, Ralph, Argus, Brice and Dale. The sec- 
ond marriage of Mr. Archbold was with 
INIary C. Sommei's, born in Adams county, 
]\Iay 9, 1843, who has borne him three chil- 
dren, viz : David A., who is married to Grace 
Deam, daughter of John C. and Amanda 



(Beadsley) Deam, and has one son, Law- 
rence, who assists his father in operating 
the farm ; Sylvester, who died in infancy, and 
loda, who is still with her parents. The 
parents of Mrs. Mary C. (Sommers) Arch- 
bold removed from Adams county to Allen 
county, Indiana, whence they came to Wells 
county, and here the father died at Ossian in 
1898, his death being greatly deplored by all 
who knew him. 

Mr. Archbold in his political affiliations 
is a Democrat, but he has never been a strong 
partisan, much less an office seeker. He start- 
ed in life poor, and has made all he has by in- 
domitable persistence and skill. His farm 
is one of the best of its size in Jefferson 
township and everything about it denotes 
thrift, enterprise and good management. All 
or nearly all the improvements on the place 
have been made by himself, and all are of the 
most modern and substantial character. He 
is widely and favorably known throughout 
his township and is recognized as a public- 
spirited and liberal-hearted gentleman, ready 
at all times to promote every project designed 
for the good of the public. He is one of the 
best of neighbors, his name being synony- 
mous with truth, fidelitv and charitv. 



ARTHUR F. ROE. 

The world bows to the young and en- 
thusiastic ; humanity is swayed by their 
dictations. It is the young man who 
moves the world forward and places each 
succeeding decade of her history on a 
higher pedestal than she has ever before 
occupied; it is the young man who causes 
the older generation to wonder at the 



492 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



present and the present to stand in awe 
of the more glorious future. His en- 
vironments make this possible, for as each 
generation nears the meridian, and then 
the close of life, the burden of the world's 
destiny is shifted, almost unconsciously, 
from their shoulders to those of the suc- 
ceeding generation, which takes up the 
march and steadil}- proceeds tu a higher 
goal. Of the present progressive gener- 
ation, Jefferson township can boast no 
better than Arthur F. Roe. who is the son 
of Ezekiel and Catharine (Puderbaugh) 
Roe. He was born in Jefferson township, 
April 9. 1862, and was reared on the old 
Roe farm, one half mile north of Ossian. 
His early education was received in the 
graded schools of Ossian, after leaving 
which he began to teach. He taught his 
first term at Lancaster Center, and at the 
same time studying the Latin course of 
the Ossian high school, from which he 
graduated with the class of 1882. In 1884 
he entered the Methodist Episcopal Col- 
lege at Fort Wayne, after having taught 
two more terms at Lancaster Center. He 
graduated in the literary course from 
that institution in 1886. After spending 
one year in the West on account of health 
he returned to Wells county in 1887 and 
learned telegraphy at Ossian during the 
fall and winter of that year. He was given 
charge of the office of the Lake Erie & 
\\'estern Railroad, at Hamilton, Indiana, 
for one year, when he was transferred to 
Ossian. After retaining this position 
three years he accepted the office of the 
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad at De- 
catur, Indiana, and after nearly a year 
there was transferred to Wayland, Michi- 
gan, at which place he was stationed 



three years. He resigned this position in 
April, 1893, and. in company with John 
S. Krewson and N. W. Newman, op- 
ened a general stock of merchandise 
at Ossian. H. O. Stine then beicame a 
partner, Krewson and Newman retiring 
after the first year, and two years later he 
sold his interest to E. H. Roe, the firm be- 
coming Roe Brothers, whose department 
store is justly considered the leading mer- 
cantile establishment of this thriving little 
city. Roe Brothers carry a stock valued 
at about four thousand dollars, in depart- 
ments devoted to dry goods, notions, 
boots and shoes and groceries, and do an 
annual business of fifteen thousand dol- 
lars. In the fall of 1897. owing to a deli- 
cate state of health, Mr. Roe bought the 
old William Somer's farm, one-half mile 
south and one half mile east of Ossian, 
where he finds congenial employment in 
the attention demanded by the many de- 
tails of a successfully conducted farm. 

Mr. Roe was married April 28, 1886, 
to Miss May Stine, the daughter of Wil- 
liam and Nancy (Spence) Stine. She was 
born in Jefferson county, Ohio, April 21, 
1863, receiving her education in the Os- 
sian high schools, from which she gradu- 
ated in 1882. She then taught in the dis- 
trict and high schools for three years. 
Both husband and wife are members of 
the Presbyterian cliurch, in which he has 
been an elder for several years. He is 
also superintendent of the Sunday school, 
of which he has had charge for nearly thir- 
teen years, and takes commendable pride 
in the schools, ranking with any in the 
county. To tliis couple five children were 
born, namely: Opal, a student in the 
freshman class of the Ossian high school ; 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



493 



Harold, Orin, Mary and Helen. In poli- 
tics, although reared a Democrat, he has 
given his own support to the Republicans, 
being one of the most active and enthusi- 
astic workers of the party in Jefferson 
township, being one of the precinct com- 
mitteemen of the township. He also 
served one term as councilman of Ossian 
just after its incorporation, in which posi- 
tion he earnestly advocated such public 
impro\ements as would benefit the com- 
munity. He is a man of intelligence, is 
an excellent citizen, a good neighbor and 
enjoys the highest esteem of his acquaint- 
ances. 



WILLIA^I EHRET. 

To the pioneer let us offer due credit, 
especially to the pioneer farmer, who cleared 
tlie wilderness and suffered the many priva- 
tions of frontier life. The subject of this 
sketch is one of these, having come to this 
country with his parents when a babe, help- 
ing to clear his father's land when a young 
man and assisting in the growth of the com- 
munity until interrupted by the call of his 
country, which he faithfully served for three 
years. Having discharged his duty as a 
soldier, he again took up the laborious work 
of developing his community and how well 
he has fulfilled his charge let this sketch pro- 
claim. William Ehret was born in Wurtem- 
berg, Germany, March ^o. 1826. His par- 
ents were Simon and Catherine (Miller) 
Ehret, and sprang from a sturdy race of 
ancestors whose strength and courage have 
been transmitted to the present generation. 
Simon Ehret was born, reared and married 
in Germany, where he served his apprentice- 



ship at the blacksmith's trade. He came to 
America in 1829 and joined the German 
comnumity at Zoar, Tuscarawas county, 
Ohio. He remained there, working at his 
trade nine years, going next to Chillicothe, 
Ohio, where for five years he worked at the 
anvil. He then returned to Bolivar, but 
later moved to Canal Fulton, Ohio. In 
the spring of 1848 he brought his family to 
Wells county and purchased eighty acres of 
land in section 2^, Jefferson township, where 
he established a rude home in the woods. As 
the country was new the Ehrets were obliged, 
until their own cabin could be erected, to 
move into the house of a neighbor, Jake 
Burns, where they remained for five weeks. 
He had decided to ply his trade even in the 
wilderness and for that purpose erected a 
shop, working as a smith while ^\'illiam, his 
son, did the clearing. 

William Ehret was then twenty-two 
years old and was a man of rugged appear- 
ance. He was a rail splitter of no mean re- 
pute and held his own at the log rollings in 
the neighborhood. He continued to work 
on his father's farm until 1857, when he was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah Niblick, 
of Adams county, and established a home of 
his own. His w'ife was ten years his junior 
having been born in Tuscarawas county, 
Ohio, in 1836. At the age of nine months 
she was brought to Adams county by her 
parents. Robert and Syden Niblick. 

While Mr. Ehret was thus getting a start 
in life, our country was tottering between 
freedom and slavery, and, imbued with pa- 
triotism, he felt that he w^as needed in the 
defense of Old Glory, and. leaving his young 
wife and four children, he offered his services 
and enlisted in Company G, One Hundred 
and First Indiana Regiment, under Captain 



494 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



Trusedale, being mustered into service at 
Indianapolis, in August, 1862. He served 
three years and was mustered out in July, 
J 865. Tlie regiment left for the South soon 
after its organization and was soon in active 
service, the first engagement being at the 
battle of Perryville, Iventucky. He also 
participated in battles at Hartsville, Milton, 
Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, 
Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge. Graysville, 
Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, 
Dalton, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville, Auk- 
worth, Picket Mills. New Hope Church, Big 
Shanty, Culp's Farm, Lost Mountain, Pine 
Mountain, Marietta, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Sm}Tna, Peach Tree Cfeek. Chattahoochee 
River, Atlanta, Ezra Church, Utoy Creek 
and Jonesboro. He was in Sherman's march 
to the sea, at Savannah, Ebenezer Church, 
Barnwell Court House, through the Caro- 
linas, Fayetteville, Averysboro, Bentonville 
and Smithfield. During his service Mr. 
Ehret was confined in the hospital two nights 
and a day, besides being obliged to spend a 
short time in the convalescent camp. He had 
many narrow escapes, and for his services 
receives a pension of twelve dollars per 
month. After an absence of three years 
from his family he returned home and re- 
sumed life on the farm, where he has con- 
tinued to reside. He has become a farmer 
and stock raiser of some note. He is a lover 
of fine stock and in his county is an authority 
on good horses, having bred several fine ani- 
mals which took premiums at the county 
fairs held in Wells and adjoining counties. 
In politics he has always voted with the 
Democratic party and in his younger days 
was an active and ardent worker in his party. 
As a member of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public he is popular with his comrades 



in the William Swaim Post at Ossian, In- 
diana. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ehret are highly respected 
in Jefferson township, where they ha\^e spent 
all their married life. They are the parents 
of fourteen children, eight of whom are liv- 
ing. They are good neighbors, excellent 
citizens and are held in high esteem by all 
who know them. They are Presbyterians 
in faith, Ijeing members of the church at 
Elhanan, and are much respected by their 
associates. Mr. Ehret is a whole-souled, 
genial man and is so known far and wide in 
Wells county, while his wife also has the 
love and respect of all. 



MARTIN HECKLEY. 

The present solid prosperity enjoyed 
in this country may be attributed largely 
to her pioneers. In the days of her maid- 
enhood, when the only welcome tendered 
a stranger was a wilderness, those who 
settled here had little to encourage them 
and much to discourage them in their 
enormous undertaking. But the sturdy 
settlers came not only with the determi- 
nation to succeed, but to succeed honest- 
ly, and worked persistently until, late in 
life, they became jirosperous and honor- 
able citizens of their locality. 

Martin Heckley, who is one of Jeffer- 
son township's prominent and prosperous 
farmers, was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, September 15, 1836. He was the 
son of Martin and Mary (Beck) Heckley, 
po'or but respected German citizens. As 
a boy he attended the schools of Germany 
and, while his education was not polished. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



495 



yet it was sufficient to enable him to make 
his way in the world without much diffi- 
culty. When he was seventeen years old 
he was apprenticed as a ropemaker, at 
which trade he worked until he came to 
America, in 1855, at the age of nineteen. 

He came directly to Jefferson town- 
ship and for some time made his home 
with his uncle, Mathias Beck. At the 
time of his arrival in Wells county he was 
indebted to his uncle to the amount of 
seventy dollars, which had been sent him 
for the purpose of defraying the expense 
of his passage to America, and being of 
an energetic disposition he immediately 
went to work to repay this money. He 
worked fourteen months for his uncle in 
order to discharge his indebtedness and 
when freed from this load hired himself 
out to a farmer for a period of five years, 
receiving one hundred and twenty-five 
dollars per year as a remuneration. Dur- 
ing that time he managed to save five 
hundred and twenty-five dollars and, after 
sending twenty-five dollars to his people 
in Germany, he bought eighty acres of 
woodland, his present homestead, which 
he proceeded at once to clear and im- 
prove. 

In 1861 Mr. Heckley was united in 
marriage with Miss Eliza ^loyer and took 
her immediately to the new home in the 
woods. This house was later remodeled and 
is the present home of the family. He is now 
the possessor of three hundred and sixty-five 
acres of as fine land as the county affords, 
it being divided into six farms estimated 
to be worth about twenty thousand dol- 
lars. In March, 1889, his first wife di^d 
and he was again married, September 16, 
189 1, to Mrs. Eugenia McDowell, who 



was born in Bluffton, Indiana, in April, 
1858. His first wife bore him seven chil- 
dren; Malinda, wife of Dan Miller; Mary, 
wife of Jacob Shoe; John married Clara 
Kleineigh ; Sam, the husband of Zoe Judd ; 
Rosa, wife of Charles Isnogle; Martin, Jr., 
married to Agnes Hunt; and Frank, whose 
wife was Catherine Judd. 

Mr. and Mrs. Heckley are both highly 
respected church members, he being a 
member of the Presbyterian faith, while 
the wife is enrolled with the United 
Brethren. They are active and enthusi- 
astic church workers and are depended 
upon by their fellow workers in all church 
affairs. Mrs. Heckley is also a member of 
the Order of Eastern Star, in which in- 
stitution she is quite prominent. Mr. 
Heckley has all his life voted the Demo- 
cratic ticket. The Heckleys are well re- 
spected citizens of Wells county, where 
they have a host of acquaintances, and 
their influence, which has been felt by 
friends and strangers alike, can be said to 
be uplifting. 

Mr. Heckley's home is pleasantly sit- 
uated four and one-half miles east of Os- 
sian and its doors are ever open in genial 
hospitality to rich and poor alike, Mr. 
Heckley ne\"er forgetting the days of his 
own struggles and privations when the 
kind words and welcome of others were 
highly appreciated. 



WTLLIAM F. KLEIXKXIGHT. 

Of German descent. William F. Klein- 
knight was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, 
February 2S. 1830, hut is now one of the 



496 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



prominent farmers of Jefferson township. 
Wells county. Indiana. His parents were 
John M. and Anna (Isenhart) Kleinknight, 
the former of whom, a native of Wurtem- 
berg. Germany, was born October 24, 1794, 
and the latter, a native of the same country, 
was born in 1788. These parents were mar- 
ried in Pennsylvania and were in but indiffer- 
ent circumstances as far as the goods of this 
world were concerned", although there existed 
a legendary rumor in an early day that one or 
both had been left a small legacy. John M. 
Kleinknight received an excellent education 
in his native land. He was reared to the 
blacksmith's trade, was a man of prudence 
and from his savings paid his passage to the 
United States about the year 1819, but on the 
\\a.y over, a fellow passenger, a young lady, 
Miss Anna Isenhart, was taken sick, and in 
her fate Mr. Kleinknight became greatly 
interested. His attentions to this young lady 
created a warm friendship between the two 
which culminated in a still warmer feeling, 
of the nature of which the reader will readily 
surmise. On the arrival of their gallant bark 
at Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Kleinknight 
found employment at his trade and Miss 
Isenhart secured a position as a domestic in 
one of the German families of the Monu- 
mental city and for some time the young 
lovers became separated, but were finally re- 
stored to each other and about 182 1 were 
united in marriage. For a few years the 
young couple continued to reside in Balti- 
more and then changed from place to place 
until Mr. Kleinknight purchased a small 
piece of land in IMiddletown, a hamlet lying 
between Gallon and Crestline, Ohio, where he 
built a shop and followed his trade until 
1849, i" the spring of which year, in com- 
pany with Michael Kunkel, of whom further 



mention will be made, he came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and entered a tract of land 
in section 31, Jefferson township, one-half 
mile north of Tocsin. These gentlemen then 
returned to Crawford county, Ohio, where 
they liquidated their debts, disposed of their 
various interests and came back to the wilds 
of Jefferson township, Wells county, In- 
diana. 

On reaching Wells county, Mr. Klein- 
knight had a capital of about two hundred 
and seventy-five dollars in cash, realized from 
his earnings when he lived in Ohio, and from 
this amount he invested one hundred and 
twenty in land in Jefferson township. In 
the fall of 1849 he loaded up his household 
goods in two covered wagons, of which one 
team belonged to himself and the other was 
hired. To the east of the point of destina- 
tion was a large swamp, but, nothing dis- 
couraged, the party made a long detour to 
the south and in a roundabout way eventu- 
ally reached the new home. As no prepara- 
tion had been made here for their shelter, 
they were hospitably welcomed to the neigh- 
borhood by David Myers, who opened the 
door of his one-roomed cabin and entertained 
them until they could prepare a patch of 
land on which to erect a cabin, a task that re- 
quired about two weeks time. The usual 
frontier experiences were gone through and 
on this farm his wife died in 1859, his own 
death occurring at the home of his son-in- 
law, :\Iichael Kunkel, in the fall of 1867. 

The family born to John M. and Anna 
Kleinknight comprised the following named 
children: Jacob and Peter (twins), born 
January 20, 1822, and both now deceased; 
John, born January 22, 1825, deceased; 
Mary A., born December 31, 1827, was mar- 
ried first to Michael Kunkel and after his 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



497 



death became the wife of Eph. High, of 
Bluffton : Wilham F., whose name opens this 
biographical record; Lydia J., born April 6, 

1832. and now the wife of Charles S. High, 
of Bluffton. In 1854 Mr. Kleinknight 
turned over the management of his farm to 
his son, William F., with the understanding 
that the latter was to pay fifty dollars to each 
of the other heirs and retain the property. 
\\niile still a resident of Baltimore, Mr. 
Kleinknight had joined the LTnited Brethren 
church and soon after his arrival in Wells 
county, Indiana, organized Salem class, a 
societ}' which is still in existence, as the 
Tocsin church. Of this class the following 
persons constituted the members : John M. 
Kleinknight and wife, J. C. Johnson and 
wife, David Gilliland and wife, Nancy Miller, 
Christopher Graham and wife. Mr. Klein- 
knight was the first class leader and offici- 
ated in some capacity in the church until the 
day of his death, revered and beloved by 
all' 

William F. Kleinknight had assisted his 
father in the shop in Ohio until nineteen 
\-ears old, when the two came to Wells coun- 
ty, Indiana, and here he attended school and 
thus acquired a fair education. On reaching 
Wells county he continued to assist his father 
for about two years in clearing up the farm 
and in cultivating it, and was then united in 
marriage, at the age of twenty-two years, 
with Miss Nancy Amrette Richey, who was 
born in Licking county, Ohio, October 25, 

1833, and in 1836 came to Wells county, In- 
diana, with her parents, who settled in Lan- 
caster township, near Murray. Here the 
little girl had but few opportunities to at- 
tend school, but she was blessed with a reten- 
tive memory, was a constant reader and be- 
came well versed in biblical knowledge and 



current history. This marriage has been 
crowned with children as follows : John M., 
who was born December 20, 1854, and died 
January i, 1875; Ivan O., born January 6, 
1858, married Serena Smith, and is one of 
the leading farmers of Lancaster township; 
Albert C, born November 11, 1859, died 
June 17, 1881 ; Norville J., born January 17, 
1863, was educated in the district schools 
and in the Ossian graded schools and at the 
Northern Indiana Normal School at Valpa- 
raiso, was a teacher of high repute in Wells 
county for many years and is now a well- 
to-do farmer in Lancaster township, and 
married to Sade W^asson; William M. mar- 
ried Minnie Sowards and is a prosperous 
farmer in Jefferson township; Lydia A., 
born in November, 1867, is the wife of Mil- 
ton Reed, and Anna, who wa-s born Septem- 
ber 14, 1873, is the wife of Henry Schoch. 

W. F. Kleinknight has been a member of 
the Tocsin United Brethren church since 
1870, but his wife joined as far back as 1854. 
Both are ardent and untiring in church work 
and are well known throughout Jefferson 
township for their piety and excellent per- 
sonal qualities. The Kleinknight home- 
stead now contains sixty-seven and one-half 
acres, and it is all cleared, well tiled and well 
impro\-ed with substantial buildings and 
makes one of the desirable homes of the 
township. Mr. Kleinknight is a Republican, 
though formerly a Democrat; however, his 
greater activity in political work was in ear- 
lier life. 



URIAH IMAST. 

One of the leading farmers and an ex- 
business man of Rock Creek township. 



498 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Wells county, Indiana, is Uriah Mast, who 
was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, 
February 26, 1847, and is a son of Abra- 
ham and Elizabeth (Albert) Mast, the 
former of whom was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born in Lebanon county, and who, 
when about twenty-three years old. mi- 
grated to Ohio and located in Montgom- 
ery county, where he renewed his friend- 
shi]) for the Albert family, with whom he 
had been acquainted before leaving Penn- 
sylvania, and, although a poor young man 
at that time, was united in marriage with 
Miss Elizabeth. About 1853 Abraham 
Mast brought his family to Wells county, 
Indiana. He had previously been to 
\\'ells county and purchased a tract of 
land in Rock Creek township, in section 
22, but did not then settle on this 
land. He first moved in with his mother- 
in-law, Mrs. Albert, who resided in Rock 
Creek township, on section 14, and at first 
rented her farm, which he afterwards 
purchased and on which he resided until 
moving to Blufifton. where his death took 
place in June, 1891, his wife having passed 
to the other world three weeks previous. 
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Mast com- 
prised eight children, named as follows: 
David, who is now a resident of Iowa ; 
Uriah, whose name opens this biographi- 
cal record; Amanda, deceased; Ehza, 
widow of John Eichhorn; Laura, unmar- 
ried; Lucinda, wife of Edward Souers, of 
Bluffton ; Jennie, wife of Abe Simmons, of 
BlufTton, and Ida, wife of Benjamin Ash- 
baucher. 

Uriah Mast was a child of about six 
years of age when he came with his par- 
ents to Wells county, Indiana, and here, 
at the proper age, he was placed in the 



district school, which he attended during 
the winter seasons until twenty-one years 
old. but in the summer seasons dutifully 
assisted in caring for the home farm, and 
for a year after attaining his majority he 
worked for his father on the same con- 
ditions as would a hired hand, after which 
he went to Illinois and remained some 
time. On his return to Wells county, In- 
diana, he rented the home farm, which he 
conducted for a couple of years. 

In 1874 Uriah Mast was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Maggie Eichhorn, a 
daughter of Philip and Margaret (Host- 
ler) Eichhorn. She was born in Ohio and 
when about eleven years old was brought 
to Wells county, Indiana. She did not, 
however, long sur\'ive the ceremony which 
made her a wife and within one year there- 
after was called to rest. The second mar- 
riage of Mr. Mast took place November 
4. 1878, to Mrs. Lucetta Brehm, widow of 
John Brehm, but who had borne the maid- 
en name of Cassel. No children, however, 
were born to either of these two mar- 
riages. Mr. and Mrs. Mast are devoted 
members of the Reform church at St. 
Paul, in which Mr. Mast had officiated as 
elder and deacon for many years. In poli- 
tics Mr. Mast is a Democrat in principle, 
but has never been particularly active in 
the afifairs of his party. Fraternally he is 
a member of the Improved Order of Red 
Men at Bluffton. 

The doctrine or theory that agricul- 
ture is the veritable source of wealth has 
been exemplified in the experience of Mr. 
Mast. Abaut the year 1887, he left his 
farm and went to Bluffton, and for eigh- 
teen months was identified with the 
Studabaker, Sale & Company warehouse, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



499 



then also for eighteen months was with 
Jacob Brown. Next, he rented the H. 
Frieze feed barn for five years; but al- 
though he did a fairly paying business, he 
was not as well satisfied as when farming, 
and so returned to his home place in Rock 
Creek township, where he is now one of 
the leading farmers and most respected 
citizens. 



LEVI SCH\\^\RTZ. 

The Schwartz family of Rock Creek 
township, Wells county, Indiana, is of 
German extraction and its most promi- 
nent representative in this county is Levi 
Schwartz, one of the well-to-do farmers of 
Rock Creek township. The grandfather 
of Levi Schwartz was the founder of the 
family in America, being one of the early 
settlers in Pennsylvania. 

Levi Schwartz, son of Michael and 
Mollie (Houtz) Schwartz, was born in 
Berks county, Pennsylvania, June 14, 
1846. Michael, the father, was reared on 
a farm and was educated in the German 
schools of the Keystone state, where he 
lived until 1850, when he came to Indiana 
and first located in Shelby county, remained 
there until the spring of 1852 and then came 
to Rock Creek township, Wells county, pur- 
chased eighty acres of what is now the 
Eichhorn farm, which was deep in the for- 
est, and there passed the remainder of 
his life, dying in i860. To him and wife 
were born two sons and three daughters, 
of whom the following named still survive : 
Levi, whose name opens this biographical 
record ; Eli ; Caroline, wife of William 
Rarhar. and Elmira, wife of Samuel Crum. 



When a lad of about six years of age, 
Levi Schwartz was brought to Rock 
Creek township. Wells county, Indiana, 
by his parents and there attended at the 
log school house for three terms, acquir- 
ing a very good education for pioneer 
days, and also assisting his father in the 
cultivation of the home farm. About one 
year after the death of his father Levi 
began to work out by the day on a farm in 
his neighborhood and continued to follow 
this class of labor until he had attained 
his twenty-first year, when, in 1867, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Harriet 
Farling, a daughter of Jacob Farling, this 
marriage resulting in the birth of eleven 
children : Ida, deceased ; Jacob ; Thomas ; 
Ann, wife of Elmer Price; John, deceased; 
Edward, Effie, Margaret and four that died 
in infancy, unnamed. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. 
Schwartz had but seventy-five dollars, but 
he was industrious and frugal, continued 
to work out as a farm hand and is now the 
owner of a good farm of fifty-five acres 
on which he lives, and also owns a business 
room at Murray, and a saw-mill at Murray, 
which he ran for one year. He likewise 
owns one of the best stone quarries in his 
part of the country, all of which property 
he has secured entirely through his per- 
sonal exertions. In fact, Mr. Schwartz is 
a natural born mechanic, has erected sev- 
eral substantial buildings, and is able to 
turn his hand to anything requiring skill 
and ingenuity in its construction. 

Mr. Schwartz is a member of the 
Lutheran church, in the faith of which his 
wife, who was also a devoted member, was 
called away October 28, 1902. Frater- 
nallv 'Sir. Schwartz is a member of Red 



500 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Men's Lodge No. 82. at Bluffton. In 
politics Mr. Schwartz is one of the sub- 
stantial Democrats of Rock Creek town- 
ship, and although he is a faithful worker 
in the interests of his party and a strong 
advocate of its principles, he has never 
sought a favor at its hand, as he has al- 
ways found himself too busy with his own 
affairs to devote his time to the precarious 
pursuit of ofSce. 

The active life led by Mr. Schwartz is 
but another instance of the success that 
ever attends industry, economy and the 
skillful application of means to secure an 
end, coupled with strict integrity. These 
virtues are possessed in an eminent de- 
gree by 'Sir. Schwartz, and the high 
standing he now occupies in the com- 
munity in which he has passed so many 
years of his busy life is but a just recog- 
nition of his personal worth. 



L. E. DEAM. 

Agriculture has been an honored voca- 
tion from the earliest ages, and as a usual 
thing men of honorable and humane im- 
pulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, 
have been patrons of husbandry. The free 
outdoor life of the farm has a decided ten- 
dency to foster and develop that indepen- 
dence of mind and self-reliance which char- 
acterize true manhood and no greater bless- 
ing can befall a boy than to be reared in close 
touch with nature in the healthful, life-in- 
spiring labor of the fields. It has always been 
the fruitful soil from which have sprung the 
moral bone and sinew of the country, and the 
majority of our nation's great warriors, wise 



statesmen, renowned scholars and distin- 
guished men of letters were born on the farm 
and are indebted to its early influence for the 
distinction which they have attained. Among 
the enterprising, influential and well-known 
agriculturists of Wells county, Indiana, is 
the gentleman whose name appears at the 
head of this brief review. 

The subject's grandfather, John A. 
Deam. was one of the early settlers in Wells 
county, having come here from Montgomery 
county, Ohio, in February, 1839. Upon ar- 
riving here he at once entered a tract of land 
bordering on the Wabash river, about one- 
half mile east of Blufifton. This tract con- 
sisted of over thirteen hundred acres of land 
and on this place he later erected a large and 
comfortable brick house which is still stand- 
ing. In connection with farming, he was 
also extensively engaged in stock raising, 
and found both branches of industry very 
profitable. He was a public-spirited man, 
was at the head of many enterprises of a pub- 
lic nature and was highly esteemed by all 
who knew him. He was twice married, and 
by his first wife had three children and by his 
second five. The lady to whom he was last 
married was in her maidenhood Catherine 
Booher, and of the children born to this 
union with her, John H., the youngest, was 
the father of the subject. 

John H. was reared upon the home farm 
and in his youth was given the advantages 
of a good common school education. Upon 
attaining his maturity he was united in mar- 
riage with Martha Welcheimer, a union 
which was blessed by the birth of two sons. 
The eldest, Charles C, was born August 30, 
1865, and attended the common schools of 
his neighborhood, after which he graduated 
from the Bluffton high school in the class of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



501 



1884. Entering DePauw University, he 
took a thorough course in pharmacy and is 
now one of the leading druggists of Bluff- 
ton. He was granted a license to teach and 
taught two terms of school in this county. 
He was united in marriage with Miss Stella 
IMullen, of Valley Mills, Indiana. 

Lewis E. Deam, the immediate subject, 
was born June 20, 1867, and spent his boy- 
hood days upon the paternal homestead. 
He attended the common schools and the 
graded schools at Bluffton, and upon the 
completion of his education chose farming 
as his life occupation. That this was a wise 
choice is evidenced by the pronounced suc- 
cess which has accompanied his sulDsequent 
operations. He is thoroughly up-to-date in 
his methods and has kept his property up to 
the highest standard of excellence, having 
now one of the best and most highly im- 
proved farms in Harrison township. 

In August, 1892, Mr. Deam was married 
to Miss Clara A. Sawyer, the daughter of 
John A. Sawyer, a farmer and stone-mason. 
She is a native of the township in which she 
now resides, her birth dating from July 27, 
1873, and she received the advantages of a 
good common school education. Their mar- 
riage has been blessed with one daughter, 
Leota L., born December 28, 1896. Mr. 
Deam and his wife belong to the Six Mile 
Christian church and are useful and influen- 
tial members of the organization. In polit- 
ical matters the subject is affiliated with the 
Democratic party and takes an intelligent 
interest in the trend of public events, though 
never taking an active part in the campaign 
work of his party. 

Mr. Deam has met with flattering success 
as a farmer and raiser of live stock. In his 
business relations he keeps in accord with 



the ethics of life, and the correctness of his 
moti\es has never been questioned by those 
with whom he has had any dealing. Person- 
ally he stands high among his neighbors and 
fellow citizens and no one has more warm 
friends or fewer enemies than has he. Emi- 
nently warm hearted and generous, he dis- 
charges alll his duties with fidelity and zeal, 
and to the best of his ability lives up to his 
highest conception of what constitutes true 
manhood. 



D. \V. ABBOTT. 

In these days of strenuous exertion 
one often hears the ministry spoken of as 
"a lazy man's job." While there is a vast 
difference of opinion on this subject at the 
present time, there was, in the history of 
Indiana, a time when the ministry requir- 
ed, if not much learning, certainly more 
in the way of health, physical endurance 
and strength of purpose, body and mind 
than any of the learned professions. Ref- 
erence is made to the time when the 
"circuit rider" was the popular preacher in 
Indiana. Rugged in nature and often un- 
couth in manner, he it was who ad- 
ministered consolation to the sick and 
hope to the dying. His circuit comprised 
a number of local congregations, each 
separated many miles from the others, 
the distance being generally covered by 
the minister on the back of a horse rarely 
noted for the smoothness of his gait. The 
circuit had to be ridden in all kinds of 
weather, so that the bodily soundness of 
the minister was a necessary accompani- 
ment to the soundness of his doctrine. 
One of these earlv ministers was Daniel 



502 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



William Abbott, the subject of this sketch, 
who was born in Shelby county, Ohio, Sep- 
tember 19. 1841. the son of William H. 
Abbott, who was born in the Lehigh 
valley, Pennsylvania, January 18, 18 18. 
His mother was Susannah Woodring, a 
native of Fairfield county, Ohio. William 
H. Abbott was a man of remarkable abil- 
ity. Even before he had attained his ma- 
jority he was elected supervisor of Dins- 
more township, Shelby county, and dis- 
charged the duties of the office very satis- 
factorily to his constituents. He was a 
man whose advantages for education had 
been limited, but he was sagacious, intel- 
ligent, observant, and by home study he 
so improved his mind that many of those 
with far better advantages were by no 
means his equal either in learning or abil- 
ity. He was only seven years of age when 
the family moved from Pennsylvania to 
Ohio and located in Dinsmore township, 
on a piece of government land. Very soon 
after the organization of the Republican 
party William H. Abbott became a warm 
advocate of the principles of that party and 
he never afterward wavered in the faith. 
The violation of the Missouri Compromise 
and the Kansas-Nebraska trouble deter- 
mined him in his choice. He and his wife 
were both members of the German Re- 
form church of Dinsmore township and 
among the most regular attendants there- 
of. Their home was about eight miles 
from the church, with the roads of those 
early days scarcely ever in an inviting con- 
dition, yet they rarely missed a service 
though frequently it took them all day to 
make the trip and return home. 

The grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch was also named W'illiam Abbott. 



At his home in Pennsylvania, on the banks 
of the Lehigh river, he was one of the 
pioneer tavern-keepers of the latter part 
of the eighteenth century. He was a man 
of wide acquaintance and unbounded hos- 
pitality. He had faith in God and the 
promise that he would provide. Truly, 
therefore, did he lend to the Lord by un- 
grudgingly giving to the poor. The chil- 
dren of William H. and Susannah (Wood- 
ring) Abbott were six in number, four 
girls and two boys. Catherine is the 
widow of the late Robert Botkin, of Ada, 
Ohio; Sarah is the wife of Rev. David 
Morgan, of Macy, Indiana; Daniel W. is 
the subject of this sketch; Eli is a teacher 
and farmer of Maplewood, Ohio; Mary 
Jane, deceased wife of Robert Turner; 
Margaret, wife of Demus Swim, of Bot- 
kin, Ohio. All those living are prosperous 
and well-to-do people of standing and 
worth in the respective communities 
where they reside. 

The early years of Daniel W. Abbott 
were spent on the farm. He received the 
benefits of a common school education, ap- 
plying himself assiduously to his studies 
with a view to qualifying himself for a 
teacher. He applied for and received a 
certificate to teach, but the breaking out 
of the war of the Rebellion greatly altered 
his plans. He was destined to carry a 
musket instead of wielding a birch and the 
prospective teacher was evolved into the 
soldier. August 13, 1862, at Sidney, 
Shelby county, Ohio, he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company H, Ninety-ninth Ohio 
A'olunteers, and continued in the service 
under Capt. Wyman, until discharged for 
disability. Returning to his home in Ohio 
about the time the draft was in progress. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



503 



he was declared subject to it and although 
desiring the privilege of re-enlisting, it 
was denied him for some cause. He was 
enrolled in Company K. Twenty-ninth 
Ohio Regiment, and served until the close 
of the war. 

December 31, 1863, Daniel W. Abbott 
was united in marriage to Jane Lambert, 
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Lam- 
bert, of Shelby county. Ohio. On the re- 
turn of Mr. Abbott from the war, at the 
close of hostilities, he turned his attention 
to farming, w^hich he continued success- 
fully and with profit until 1872. when he 
entered the ministry of the United Breth- 
ren church, where he was granted a quar- 
terly conference license to preach. In 1872 
he was appointed by Rev. William Bay, to 
fill a vacancy that occurred on the Pleas- 
ant circuit and in 1873, upon the recom- 
mendation of Rev. William Bay, presiding 
elder of the West district, and Rev. J. L. 
Luttrel. presiding elder of the East dis- 
trict, where Mr. Abbott held his member- 
ship, he was received into the annual con- 
ference and was given his first charge, the 
^\'abash circuit in Jay county, Indiana. 
Five years after his entrance into ministry 
he completed his studies and was regularly 
ordained as an elder in the church. For 
the next seventeen years he was almost 
continuously engaged in the work of the 
gospel. December 15, 1900, on account 
of failing health, he was obliged to retire 
from the work. During active service in 
the ministry he had charge of various cir- 
cuits both in Indiana and Ohio and in 
every instance his ministry was blessed by 
the accomplishment of much good. In 
most instances when a change was made 
his people were very reluctant to part from 
him and on manv occasions he was dele- 



gated to hold quarterly conference for the 
presiding elder. 

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are the parents 
of eight children, six' sons and two daugh- 
ters : Alfred Sherman resides in Craig- 
ville; Elmer lives in Lancaster township; 
Emma Ellen is the wife of Charles Warth- 
man, of Lancaster township ; Rosa Arretta 
is the wife of Amos Hetrick, Jr., and also 
resides in Lancaster township ; Nelson 
Wallace; Arthur Newton, of Bluffton; 
J\Ierritt Calvin, of Craigville, and Edgar 
Clark, still living at home. About 1890 
Mr. Abbott engaged in the mercantile 
business in Craigville, though he continu- 
ed his chosen calling, allowing his sons to 
look after the store. His popularity and 
fair dealing soon established for him good 
trade and he continued in the mercantile 
business, being fairly prosperous, until 
two years ago, when he sold the store and 
turned the business over to his son, Alfred 
S. Abbott. In every undertaking of his 
life Mr. Abbott has been quite successful. 
He is the owner of several acres of land 
in ^^'ells county, is possessed of an elegant 
home in Craigville and a number of profit- 
able investments add materially to his 
yearly income. In politics he is a Republi- 
can and, although liberal and conservative 
in his views, is, nevertheless, very firm in 
his convictions. He likes to do good for 
the sake of that which is good, is kind and 
gentle in disposition, and charitable al- 
most to a fault. He loves his home and 
family, his friends and neighbors, and is 
never happier than when he is benefitting 
others, even at an outlay of time, trouble 
or money to himself. There is no kinder 
father, more loving husband or better citi- 
zen than Rev. Daniel W. Abbott, the name 
of whose friends is legion. 



504 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



SIMON B. BICKEL. 

Among the well known citizens of Harri- 
son township, Wells county, Indiana, is 
Simon B. Bickel, who was born in Darke 
count}-, Ohio, June ly. 1848, and is a son of 
John and Margaret (Moyer) Bickel, the for- 
mer a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and the latter of Butler count}^, Ohio. 
John Bickel was reared to farming in his na- 
ti\e county, receiving the education usually 
imparted to farmer's lads. From Pennsyl- 
vania he removed to Butler county, Ohio, 
with his parents, and was there married to 
Miss Moyer. He later moved to Darke 
county, Ohio, where he purchased a tract of 
five hundred acres of land and for some years 
was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but 
later in life conducted a hotel at Hill Grove, 
Ohio, where his wife passed away, at the age 
of seventy-five years, and w'here his own 
death occurred when he had reached the good 
old age of eighty-eight. Mr. Bickel was a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and his 
earthly possessions were quite extensive, he 
being considered one of the wealthiest men 
in his part of Ohio. To John Bickel and wife 
was born a family of eight boys and four 
girls, viz : Lewis, deceased, John W., Su- 
san, deceased, Henry, Mary Catherine, 
Simon B. and Alexander (twins), Franklin, 
William, Minur\-a J., deceased, and Harri- 
son. 

Simon B. Bickel was reared to farming 
on the family homestead, receiving in the 
meantime a district school education. On 
February 23, 1871, he married, in Darke 
county, Ohio, Miss Sarah J. Dougherty, the 
accomplished daughter of William and Mar- 
garet (Studabaker) Dougherty, and sister of 
Hugh Dougherty, president of the Studa- 



baker Bank. In :\L'irch, 1875, :^Ir. Bickel 
brought his young famil)- from Ohio to 
Wells county, Indiana, and here agriculture 
and stock raising have since occupied his 
attention, in both of which he has met with 
abundant success in the townships of Lan- 
caster and Harrison. 

The children born to Simon B. and Sarah 
J. (Dougherty) Bickel are numbered four, 
Hugh D., Margaret E., deceased, Bessie E. 
and Gertrude E. Of these, Hugh married 
Carrie Swasher ; Bessie is the wife of Charles 
Porter, and Gertrude is still single; she was 
graduated from the BlufTton high school and 
also from the Huntington Business College, 
of Huntington, Indiana. 

Mr. Bickel is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United W'orkmen, in which he 
holds an insurance policy on his life for two 
thousand dollars, believing in the wisdom of 
making ample provisions for his family at a 
minimum cost. Mr. and iMrs. Bickel are de- 
voted members of Six Mile Christian church, 
to the maintenance of which they are liberal 
contributors and in the promulgation of 
whose doctrines they feel an earnest interest. 
In 1902 Mr. Bickel represented his congre- 
gation as a delegate to the Eel River con- 
ference at Goshen, and is at all times ready 
to devote his time and means to the promo- 
tion of the welfare of the Six Mile church in 
particular, as well as that of the church in 
general. The political creed of Mr. Bickel 
is to be found in the platform of the Demo- 
cratic party, and he is as active and as en- 
ergetic in caring for and promoting its in- 
terests as he is in advancing to a prosper- 
ous consummation every thing he under- 
takes. 

Mr. Bickel's farm is situated in sec- 
tions 2 and II, Harrison township. Wells 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



505 



count}-, and on this place are several sand 
and gravel pits, from which has been dug 
the material necessary for the use of the 
city of Blufifton for the past twenty years, 
and since he settled here, in 1892, he has 
sold the product of his pits to the amount 
of sixteen thousand dollars. Mr. Bickel 
cannot and does not complain of the man- 
ner in which Dame Fortune has treated 
him since he has been a resident of Wells 
county, but he must be awarded the credit 
of having to a great extent been the 
directing genius which pointed out to the 
gentle goddess the course she should take 
in seeking the road to ultimate success. 



JOHN A. AIILLER. 

The man who was in the business of 
raising stock at the breaking out of the 
war of the Rebellion was in a position to 
realize handsomely upon his possessions. 
An immense army had to be raised, equip- 
ped and supplied. Beef, pork and mutton 
were in such demand that the animals out 
of \\hich to convert the meat at once 
enhanced greatly in value. Horses and 
mules, too, were necessary and their value 
appreciated with a rapidity that furnished 
a most agreeable surprise to the owners. 
The "father of John A. Miller, the subject 
of this sketch, was at that time an exten- 
sive farmer and a large stock raiser. He 
was already wealthy when the war broke 
out, but the advancement of prices then 
added greatly to his possessions. 

John A. Miller was born in Darke 
county, Ohio, August 15, 1836. the son of 
Daniel and Elenore (Graves) Miller. His 
father was an Ohioian by birth, but his 



grandfather was a native of Germany. 
Daniel Miller was only a boy when his par- 
ents moved to Darke county, Ohio, taking 
the lad with them. There he grew to man- 
hood, married, and was preparing to en- 
joy domestic life when his wife died, leav- 
ing him childless. Miss Elenore Graves 
was his second wife. The famih- moved 
from Darke county to Adams county and 
in about 1838 moved to Wells county. In- 
diana, entered one hundred and sixty 
acres of government land, built a home 
and proceeded to carve a farm out of 
the trackless wilderness. To this farm 
piece after piece was added until it became 
a tract of eight hundred acres. Seven 
children were born to Daniel and Elenore 
Miller, of whom John A. was the oldest. 
He was only two years old when his par- 
ents mo\"ed to \\'ells county, and has since 
made this county his home. His father 
died in 1864, a rich man, his estate being 
valued at more than thirty thousand dol- 
lars. He was shot In- a horse thief while 
trying to arrest the latter, and died about six 
hours later from the effects of the wound. 

The education of John A. Miller was 
received in the district school of Wells 
county. He attended regularly when there 
was school during the winter months, was 
studious and attentive and profited by the 
instruction received. \Mien not in school 
he worked on the farm for his father until 
he was twenty-two years old. when he be- 
gan dealing in stock on his own account. 
To this branch of business he took very 
kindly, learned early to form a correct es- 
timate of an animal or number of animals 
and was always prepared to accept or re- 
fuse any proposition that might be made 
by a prospecti\"e seller, without bringing 



5o6 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



to his assistance the use of scales. While 
yet a young man, he was one of the lead- 
ing stock buyers and shippers of Bluffton, 
and it is needless to say that under those 
circumstances he accumulated money rap- 
idly. 

In 1867 Mr. Miller was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Sarah Martin, daughter of 
Josephus Martin, a native of Adams coun- 
ty, Indiana. To this union were born eight 
sons, six of whom are living. They are 
Frank, Robert, John, Josephus, Rufus and 
Harry. All of the boys have received good 
liberal educations, though Robert and 
Harry have taken especially to books and 
learning, attending school in IndianapoHs. 
At the time of his marriage Mr. Miller 
was possessed of but little property. He 
bought a quarter section of land and kept 
adding to it until he is now the owner of 
a farm of four hundred acres, estimated 
to be worth twenty-one thousand dollars, 
his entire estate 'footing up more than 
twenty-three thousand dollars. 

Personally Mr. Miller is an honest, 
candid man. What he has to say is always 
said with the most commendable frank- 
ness, pretences and subterfuges being to 
him most odious. He makes money eas- 
ily and rapidly and is liberal and generous 
with it. His home is one of the most hospit- 
able places in the county, and no man ever 
leaves his threshold hungry or in want. He 
is a member of Lodge No. 114, I. O. O. F., 
at BlufYton: In politics he has always been 
an unswerving Republican, but in local 
affairs he always recognizes the man 
above the party. Throughout the county 
his acquaintance is quite extensive, his 
honesty, candor and fairness in all his 
dealings having established for him a pop- 



ularity throughout the county that few 
possess. He is a model man in every re- 
lation of life, and is highly esteemed by all 
who know him. 



JOHN R. DITZLER. 

The biographies of enterprising men, 
especially of good men, are instructive 
as guides and incentives to others. The 
examples they furnish of patient purpose 
and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate 
what it is in the power of each to accom- 
plish. Some men belong to no exclusive 
class in life ; apparently insurmountable 
obstacles have in many instances awaken- 
ed their dormant faculties and served as 
a stimulus to carry them to ultimate suc- 
cess. The instances of success in the face 
of ad\erse fate would seem almost to justi- 
fy the conclusion that self-reliance, with 
a half chance, can accomplish any reason- 
able object. The gentleman whose life 
history is herewith outlined is a man who 
has lived to good purpose and achieved a 
much greater degree of success than falls 
to the lot of the average individual. By 
a straightforward and commendable 
course he has made his way to a respect- 
able position in the world, winning the 
hearty admiration of the people of his 
county and earning a reputation as an en- 
terprising, progressive man of afifairs 
which the public has not been slow to rec- 
ognize and appreciate. 

John R. Ditzler, the present superin- 
tendent of the Wells county infirmary, 
was born in Galion, Crawford county, 
Ohio, October 9, 1853, and is the son of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



507 



George and Elizabeth (Saurbaugh) Ditz- 
ler. The Ditzler family is from Reading, 
Pennsylvania, and there George Ditzler 
was reared. Upon attaining maturity he 
learned the trade of a carpenter and also 
carried on farming. He was married in 
Ins native state and afterward moved to 
Crawford county, Ohio. He had run a 
grist-mill in Pennsylvania, but upon his 
removal to Ohio he sold the mill and at 
Gallon he was engaged in farming and also 
worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1863 
he emigrated to Rock Creek township, 
W'ells county, Indiana, bought a farm and 
made that his home during the remainder 
of his life, dying May 6, 1892. He was the 
owner of one hundred and sixty acres of 
land and on this he made most of the im- 
provements and achieved an enviable rep- 
utation as a progressive and successful 
agriculturist. He was the father of the fol- 
lowing children : George married Lillie 
Teeple and now resides near Markle. Indi- 
ana ; Frank married Lula Sechler, daughter 
of Benjamin Sechler ; Susana is a resident of 
this county, and the wife of Henry Biggans ; 
Mary, now Mrs. Samuel Schoch ; Sarah is 
the wife of Jacob Alshouse; Belinda is the 
wife of Lemuel Lyons; Elizabeth is the wife 
of John Haiflich, and Alice is the wife of 
John Taylor. 

John R. Ditzler was reared upon the 
home farm and was early inured to the 
toil and incessant labor incident to the life 
of the average farmer. He was given the 
advantage of such educational facilities 
as were afforded in the common schools 
of the neighborhood. Upon attaining his 
maturity he was married and at once com- 
menced to farm for himself, which occu- 
pation he followed until his appointment 



as superintendent of the New Lancaster 
and Markle gravel road, a position which 
he very satisfactorily filled for twelve 
years. At that time the state law was 
changed so that the county was divided 
into three districts and in the spring of 
1895 he was appointed to the oversight of 
one district, filling this position for about 
eighteen months. His performance of the 
duties of these positions was eminently 
satisfactory and reflected great credit 
upon him. So strongly did he intrench 
himself in the confidence of the people 
that, in 1898. he was appointed by the 
county commissioners to the responsible 
position of superintendent of the Wells 
county infirmary, being chosen over thir- 
ty-five other applicants for the position. 
So wise and discriminating has been his 
management of the institution that he has 
been successively reappointed to succeed 
himself and is still occupying the position. 
He is good natured, kind hearted and 
sympathetic and accomplished much to- 
wards the alleviation of the condition of 
the inmates of the institution over which 
he presides, and by his sound judgment, 
wise discrimination and careful economy 
has kept the expense account down to the 
minimum, at the same time taking proper 
care that the inmates are properly pro- 
vided for in all their requirements. 

John R. Ditzler was united in marriage 
September 14, 1873. with Miss Malinda 
Brickley, daughter of Alfred Brickley. ex- 
trustee of Rock Creek township. This 
union lias been a most happy and congen- 
ial one and has been blessed by the birth 
of the following children : Etta is the wife 
of John A. Miller; John C. married Miss 
Mary Hawkins and resides in Rock Creek 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



township, this county; Nora and Pearl are 
unmarried and still have their home under 
the paternal roof. Besides these children 
Mr. and Mrs. Ditzler are rearing an or- 
phan child, Inez Guardhnour, and are giv- 
ing to her the same loving care and atten- 
tion the}' gave to their own children. 

Politically Mr. Ditzler has always affil- 
iated with the Democratic party and has 
lieen an acti\e and influential worker in 
the interest of the party. Religiously he 
and his wife are faithful and consistent 
members of the Lutheran church, of which 
he has served as elder. Mr. Ditzler"s char- 
acter is endowed with many noble quali- 
ties that contribute so much to his em- 
inenc usefulness and the esteem in which 
h(j is held by the citizens of ^\"ells county. 
His kindliness of heart, his unvaried cheer- 
ful disposition, his wisdom as a counsel- 
lor and advisor among his neighbors and 
friends and his modest, unassuming man- 
ner in every relation of life are among the 
most distinguished characteristics which 
have attracted to him the many warm 
friends whom he prizes so highly and 
whose warm personal regard he will al- 
wavs retain. 



C. L. BLUE, M. D. 

In the present essentially utilitarian 
age the life of ever)- successful man is a 
lesson which, told in contemporary narra- 
tive, is productive of great good in shap- 
ing the destiny of others. There is, there- 
fore, a sense of satisfaction and impor- 
tance in presenting, even in brief resume, 
the life and achievements of such men, and 



in preparing the following history of the 
scholarly young physician of whom this 
sketch is written, it is with the hope that it 
may not only prove interesting and in- 
structive, but that it may also serve as an 
incentive to those who contemplate mak- 
ing the profession of medicine their life 
work. 

Dr. C. L. Blue, the rising young physi- 
cian of Tocsin. Wells county, Indiana, is 
the son of the H(in. M. C. Blue, of Lancas- 
ter townshi]). He was born in JefYerson 
township. Wells oiunty. December i6. 1868, 
and received his early training on his 
father's farm and in the district schools. 
Later he attended the Ossian graded 
schools and also took a three-years course 
in the Ossian high school. Before com- 
pleting his high school course he entered 
the Northern Indiana Normal School and 
Business College at Valparaiso, Indiana, 
where he took the course assigned to teach- 
ers, and also graduated from the busi- 
ness department of that institution Feb- 
ruary 24, 1891. He then returned to his 
father's home and after teaching two 
terms entered the School of Pharmacy at 
Chicago, graduating with the class of 
1895. He then entered the Fort Wayne 
Medical College and after three years' 
study in that institution graduated with 
the degree of I\I. D. in the spring of 
1898. in the same class with Dr. Fred 
Metts, of Ossian. Indiana. Immediately 
after completing his medical education 
Dr. Blue located in Tocsin, Indiana, where 
he succeeeded in building up a large and 
lucrative practice. His knowledge of med- 
icine not being satisfactory to himself, he 
went to Chicago in 1901 and took a post- 
graduate course in the Chicago Clinical 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



509 



School. The Doctor is a close student of 
his profession and spares no pains to keep 
in touch with the latest theories advanced 
in medical science. His reading is exten- 
sive and his knowledge of his profession 
is thorough. He is a member of the 
Wells County and Indiana State Medical 
Societies and the American Medical As- 
sociation, and Fort Wayne Academy of 
Medicine. He has been vested with the 
privileges of notary public and also holds 
the office of deputy health ofificer of Wells 
county. He has always given his support 
to the Democratic party, but owing to his 
duties as a physician has never taken a 
very active part in the political affairs of 
his community. 

Dr. Blue is a Mason and a man of 
many friendships, and stands well in the 
community in which he has labored since 
the completion of his education. He is 
well versed in his profession and makes an 
excellent citizen of Wells county as well 
as Jefferson township. 



JEREMIAH ROE. 

One of the most experienced and re- 
spected farmers of Union township, Wells 
county, Indiana, is Jeremiah Roe, who was 
born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 4, 
1828, and is a son of Ezekial and Elizabeth 
( Fonk) Roe. Jeremiah Roe was a child 
of but three years when he was brought 
by his parents from Ohio to Indiana. 
Ezekial Roe entered land in Randolph 
county and settled down to farming. On 
the land thus entered young Jeremiah 
was reared to manhood, in the meantime 



attending school during the winter 
months and assisting in the work on the 
farm until he was twenty-three years old. 
At the early age of eighteen, however, he 
began to trade and made some money. 
At twenty he borrowed twenty dollars, 
and entered eighty acres of land, but con- 
tinued to work for his father until the sum- 
mer of 1850, when he came to Wells 
county and began clearing the timber 
from his property, and in winter returning 
to Randolph county. This practice he 
followed several years and kept on adding 
to his holdings until he now owns three 
hundred and twenty acres. 

Jeremiah Roe was joined in marriage 
with Aliss Mary Garnand, who was born 
near Reiffsburg, Indiana, in 1841, and is a 
daughter of Pet^.r and Elizabeth (Peter- 
man) Garnand, natives of Virginia, bnt 
who were reared in Ohio, whence they 
came to Wells county, Indiana, and set- 
tled in Nottingham township. Jeremiah 
Roe and his wife settled on the old farm 
at marriage, and here have been born ten 
children, namely : Prof. J. N. Roe, who 
was graduated from the graded schools 
of Ossian, afterward from the Northern 
Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, in 
which he is now in charge of the depart- 
ment of pharmacy ; John W. married 
Sadie Hamilton, who died ten years later, 
and he is now assisting his father in the 
operation of the farm ; Emma J. is the wife 
of H. Hercules, a prosperous farmer of 
Union township ; Alice is the wife of 
George Young, of Markle; Charles C. 
married Jennie Haflich and is farming in 
Rock Creek township; George A. mar- 
ried Minnie Lawver and is in Huntington 
county ; Etta M. is the wife of Lawrence Set- 



5IO 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tlemeyer; Dora E. is the wife of xA.an)n 
Dufif; Vernie L. died in childhood, and 
Maud, at home. 

Mrs. Roe is a member of the Church of 
God, to the maintenance of which she free- 
ly contributes, and in this her husband is 
in no respect backward. .A.s to his political 
inclinations, Mr. Roe has always been a 
Democrat and has never found occasion 
to change tlie opinions impressed upon 
him in early manhood. Although a hard 
worker in his labors for the success of his 
party at the polls, he has never pushed 
himself forward as a candidate for office, 
leaving it to younger men to do the hus- 
tling, reserving the right to cast his vote 
at the proper time. The social standing 
of Mr. and Mrs. Roe and family is with 
the best people of the township, and, not- 
withstanding their advanced age they are 
still recognized as useful citizens, their 
sage advice being often sought by per- 
sons of less experience. 



HERCULES H. NEFE. 

An e.x-school teacher and present 
farmer in Union township. Wells county, 
Indiana, Hercules H. Neff, a son of Jacob 
and Isabella (Garovick) Nefif, was born 
in Crawford county, Ohio, January i6. 
1863. From that locality the father re- 
moved with his family to Cambridge City, 
Wayne county, Indiana, where he died, 
and his widow re-married, becoming the 
wife of David R. Grubaugh. She then 
moved to Marshall county, Indiana, 
whence she went to Huntington county 
and in 1872 came with her second husband 



and her son to Wells county, where they 
have lived and prospered ever since. 

Hercules Nefif was reared under the 
care of his mother and step-father on a 
farm, and has lived in Union township, 
Wells county, for thirty years. Here he 
was primarily educated in the district 
schools and in the normal schools of Hunt- 
ington and \\'ells counties. He taught 
two terms of school and although he had 
met with eminent success as a teacher, he 
became wearied of the profession and 
abandoned it for the purpose of resuming 
agricultural pursuits. Mr. NefY is engaged 
in general farming and stock raising, but 
gives especial attention to Polled Durham 
cattle and Cotswold sheep, in the breed- 
ing of which he has met with more than 
usual success and from the sale of which 
he has realized his largest profits. This 
farm contains one hundred and twenty 
acres, which is well cultivated and improv- 
ed with good buildings, tiling, etc. 

March 13, 1888, Mr. Nefif was united in 
marriage with Miss Emma J. Roe, the 
daughter of Jere Roe, of Union township, 
and a highly educated and accomplished 
young lady, who has blessed her husband 
with one child, Ola M., born December 16, 
1889. In their religious connection Mr. 
and Mrs. Nefif are members of the United 
Brethren church and are liberal contribu- 
tors of their means to the maintenance of 
this religious organization. For a number 
of years Mr. Nefif has filled the position of 
superintendent of its Sunday school. In 
politics he is one of Union township's most 
active and ardent Republicans and has de- 
voted much of his time to the service of 
the party and in other capacities. He is 
-popular, both as a Republican and as a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



511 



citizen, and at one time was the nominee 
of his party for the oi^ce of county sur- 
veyor, but his indifference as to pubHc 
position and his innate modesty were not 
conducive to his taking any active part in 
forwarding his own interests during the 
canvass. 

As a citizen Mr. Neff is broad minded 
and Hberal. He is an advocate of free 
schools and, when necessary, of compul- 
sory education, and good roads are among 
the other conveniences and comforts he 
deems absolutely necessary for the use of 
the farming population especially, but he 
does not believe in over assessing those 
who do not require such conveniences 
simply because others do require them. 
He believes in even-handed justice, but, 
as an individual, is always ready to make 
a sacrifice of his means for the benefit of 
the general weal, even though he may not 
reap the full benefit of such contributions 
toward promoting the well-being of the 
general community. 



JESSE CRITES. 

Sixty years ago Indiana was b)' no means 
the inviting place to bring a young and blush- 
ing bride that it is today. In the towns some 
of the comforts of civilization might be pro- 
cured, but in the timber the rudest kind of 
fare was what the hardy settler lived on. It 
was to a home in the woods of Indiana, more 
than a half-century ago, that Jesse Crites, of 
Union township, brought his wife. The 
maidens of those days were not so fastidious 
and exacting as those of the present. They 
were content with little and were happiest 



when their husbands permitted them to bear 
their share of the burdens of pioneer life, 
and doubtless they were all the better for it. 

Jesse Crites, the son of John and Mary 
(W'alters) Crites, was born in Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, December 2, 1824. His par- 
ents were natives of Pennsylvania, but in 
their youth emigrated with the families to 
which they respect! vel}- belonged to Ohio, 
and settled on adjoining tracts of land. Both 
families were of German ancestry, and the 
intimacy between them led to a closer 
relationship between the children. John and 
Mary were married and set up housekeeping 
on a piece of land they bought from the gov- 
ernment. He was by trade a cabinetmaker 
and set up a shop near his residence, from 
which he turned out many handsome, sub- 
stantial pieces of furniture. Many of the 
best tables, stands, bureaus and bedsteads 
that adorned the homes in the neighborhood 
where he lived were of his handiwork. The 
union of John and Mary Crites was blessed 
by the birth of five sons and five daughters. 
Nine of these still survive, namely : Re- 
becca, Jesse, Catherine, Elizabeth, John 
Cyrus, Eli, William and Sarah. The father 
of this family prospered and accumulated 
money. He followed his business of cabinet- 
making many years and continued to reside 
upon his farm up to the time of his death at 
sixty-eight years of age. 

Jesse, the oldest son, was reared upon his 
father's farm and helped to clear the land, 
much of the clearing devolving entirely upon 
him as he grew older, for his father was fre- 
quently quite busy in his shop. The boy was 
ambitious and desirous of Ijeing in the pos- 
session of land of his own, so when he at- 
tained his majority he looked about for a 
piece of government land in his native coun- 



SI- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ty, but tliere was none to be had. It was not 
quite so scarce in Indiana, however, so to 
that state he proceeded and in L^nion town- 
ship, Wells county, he found a tract of eighty 
acres which suited him and after making his 
entry upon it in 1848 he returned to Ohio. 

In February, 1849, Mr. Crites was united 
in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Myers, a na- 
tive of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, born in 
1829. Her parents were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, where they w-ere born, reared and 
married, and soon afterward located in Tus- 
carawas county. Two years afterward she 
accompanied her husband to the woods of 
Wells county, and in the fall of 1849 '^^^ 
parents followed to Allen county, going to 
Wisconsin four years later, where her 
father died and her mother moved to Kansas, 
where she continued to reside until her death. 
Mrs. Crites was blessed by nature with vig- 
orous health and strength and in her girl- 
hood days she fref|uently assisted her father 
in the clearing and in the fields. Hence, 
when she came into the woods of Wells 
county with her husband, she proved a val- 
uable assistant to him. They first took up 
housekeeping in a little log shanty on the 
farm of a neighbor, Isaac Roe, while Mr. 
Crites was building a log cabin on his own 
place. When it was completed they moved 
into it and began the laborious task of con- 
verting the woods and swamps into a pro- 
ductive farm. It took time, muscle and en- 
ergy, but it was eventually accomplished, as 
is amply attested by the well-kept, well-im- 
proved farm upon which he resides in sec- 
tion 20. To the original eighty acres he has 
added, until he was the owner of two hun- 
dred and four acres. This he has since divid- 
ed and given a good portion of it to his chil- 
dren, leaving one hundred and forty-four 



acres in the homestead. When he came to 
Wells county, he had just fifteen dollars in 
money, and it was stolen from him within a 
short time after his arrival, and he never got 
even the satisfaction of knowing the thief. 
Mr. and Mrs. Crites were the parents of 
seven children, only three of whom are still 
living. They are John, who married Aman- 
da McGoogan, resides at Uniondale; Jesse 

F. married Vianna Shaw, and resides in 
Charlevoix county, Michigan ; Isa, wife of 

G. F. Piatt, resides on the old homestead, 
which he operates. In religion Mr. and Mrs. 
Crites are members of the Church of God 
at Trinity Chapel, and he has been a worship- 
per in that society for sixty-one years, join- 
ing the church when he was only eighteen. 
For several years he has been a church offi- 
cial. The first meeting held in this vicinity 
by the adherents of this faith was held in 
Mr. Crites' cabin about fifty-two years ago, 
and the first society was organized there, 
there being six members, himself and wife, 
Daniel Fisher and wife and Daniel Hostet- 
ler and wife, the later having come at the 
same time as did Crites, and of these six 
four are still li\-ing, Mrs. Fisher and Mr. 
Hostetler being deceased. 

In politics Mr. Crites is one of the old- 
line Republicans in Union township, but 
never sought or held any official position at 
the hands of his party. His business of farm- 
ing and stock raising has occupied too much 
of his time to afford him the chance of dab- 
bling in politics. He is a man of kindly dis- 
position and strong sympathy and every im- 
pulse of his nature is for the betterment of 
his fellow men. Hence, he is not only well 
liked, but e.xceedingly popular, a man whose 
friendship is highly valued and whose in- 
fluence is sought and appreciated. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



513 



JOHN A. WALKER. 

John Walker, the grandfather of the 
gentleman whose name opens this bio- 
graphical sketch, was born in North Caro- 
lina and descended from a very ancient 
English family. Rev. John Walker, the 
grandfather, was married in his native 
state, and about 1833 came to Indiana and 
settled in Rush county, where he ofificiated 
as a clergyman of the Baptist church until 
he felt a change in heart and belief and 
became a minister in the church of the 
Disciples. He was twice married and was 
the father of twelve or thirteen children. 
Leonard S. Walker, father of John A., was 
the youngest of the children born to his 
parents, his mother being, his father's first 
wife. He was reared on a farm in Rush 
county, Indiana, and was a farmer by voca- 
tion. He married Malinda Davis, a native of 
Ohio and for five years rented a farm in 
Rush county. In the fall of 1846, in com- 
pany with a brother, he came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and entered one hundred 
and sixty acres of land in the woods where 
Zanesville now stands. He laid out this 
prosperous little town, in which his broth- 
er James was the first merchant and where 
he resided five or six years, removing to 
another farm in the township, where he 
remained until about 1874. He returned to 
Ft. Wayne, where he died at the age of 
seventy-seven years. 

John A. Walker was born on this 
Zanesville farm March i. 1847, on which 
he was reared and was educated in the 
schools of his native district. He began 
to teach at the age of twenty years and 
later attended the seminary at Roanoke, 
and a commercial college at Toledo, and 
for ten years folowed his profession of 



teacher in Wells county. January i, 1874, 
Mr. Walker was married to Miss Alfor- 
rettah Austin, who was born in Preble 
county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Rev. 
Dr. C. B. and Sarah A. (Burnau) Austin, 
who came in 1868 from Ohio to Indiana 
and first located in Henry county, and 
later lived for several years at Noblesville 
where she grew to maturity. Mrs. Walk- 
er was educated in the schools of Nobles- 
ville where she became a teacher and after- 
ward taught in Allen county, devoting 
about ten years to the schoolroom. Dr. 
Austin represented Allen county in the 
state legislature one term, about 1876, 
when he resided at Zanesville. The latter 
part of his life was as a minister and phy- 
sician at Veerdersburg, Indiana, where he 
died at about sixty-five years of age. One 
brother of Mrs. Walker, T. B. Austin, 
served through the war in the Eighth In- 
diana Cavalry. He became a teacher and 
dentist and was engaged in the practice at 
Ft. Wayne at the time of his death. 

The first farm owned by Mr. Walker 
comprised forty acres in section 17, but 
selling this, he bought the old Samuel B. 
Caley farm. He has added to this until he 
now owns one hundred and seventy acres 
in one tract which is known as the Pleas- 
ant Grove farm and is located three and a 
half miles north of Maple. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Walker has been born 
one son. Earl J., who was born February 
20, 1880. He graduated from the district 
schools in 1894 and from the Huntington 
high school in 1898. He then attended the 
State University, graduated in 1902 with 
the degree of B. A., and was chosen valedic- 
torian by the class. He is now principal of 
the Ossian high school. 

Mrs. Walker is a member of the 



514 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



Churcli of the Disciples, at Markle, Indi- 
ana, and is president of the C. W. B. M. In 
company with a number of other ladies of 
Huntington and adjoining counties, she 
organized, in 1900, what is known as the 
Ladies' Home Maker Association, an aux- 
iliary to the Farmers' Institute work and 
which was designed to give suitable training 
to the home makers, and she was selected as 
the first president, a position she filled for 
two years, during which time the interest 
and membership were flattering. Mr. Walker 
is a Democrat and served three terms as 
trustee, covering eleven years, during Avhich 
time most of the finest school buildings 
were erected. 



GEORGE HOOPENGARNER. 

The Hoopengarner family had its ori- 
gin in Germany, but for five generations 
members of the family have been residents 
of America. George Hoopengarner. 
whose name opens this biographical 
sketch and now a representative citizen of 
Wells county, Indiana, had his nativity in 
Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 12, 
1835, and is a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Walters) Hoopengarner. When the great- 
grandparents of George Hoopengarner 
came from Germany to America they 
settled in Pennsylvania, where there was 
born to them a son who there grew to 
manhood, was married and became the 
progenitor of the Wells county family. 
The Walters family also came from Ger- 
many and the great-grandparents of Mrs. 
Hoopengarner were the founders of the 
familv of that name in the Kevstone 



state. The great-grandparents were mar- 
ried in Pennsylvania, whence they emigrat- 
ed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where 
great-grandfather Hoopengarner purchas- 
ed a farm, although he was a shoemaker 
by trade, and in inclement weather, which 
precluded outdoor work, worked at his 
calling under shelter. These great-grand- 
parents reared a family of eight children 
and passed the remainder of life in Tus- 
carawas county. 

George Hoopengarner was reared on 
his father's old farm and was educated in 
the schools of his district, but had the mis- 
fortune, when but three years old, of los- 
ing his father. At the age of twenty-one 
years he began working out by the month. 
December 22, 1857, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Emily Smuts, a daughter 
of Jacob and Mary (Fleming) Smuts, of 
German descent but natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, who settled in Tuscarawas county, 
Ohio, where Mrs. Hoopengarner was born 
and reared. Jacob Smuts was a son of 
John and Anna (Thomas) Smuts, both 
born in Pennsylvania, but whose parents 
came from Germany, and they both lived 
and died in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 

In 1859 Mr. Hoopengarner came to 
Union township. Wells county, and pur- 
chased ninety-two acres of woodland, for 
part of which he went into debt and on which 
he has resided ever since. But the debt he 
incurred has long since been liquidated and 
he now stands among the most substantial 
and well-to-do agriculturists of Union town- 
ship. 

To the felicitous marriage of George 
and Emily (Smuts) Hoopengarner have 
been born four sons and one daughter. 
Of these. Clarence E. married Miss Lvdia 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



515 



Neff. who was early called away, and he 
next married Miss Christine Elich, and 
still retains his home in L^nion township; 
Joseph N. married Mary Robinson and 
Hves in Markle ; George F. married Ne- 
vada Graubaugh; Ralph V. married !Miss 
Ella Edmondson and still lives on the old 
homestead which he has cultivated w-ith 
success ; Elmira is the wife of Riley M. 
Caley and also lives in Union township. 
The family are members of the United 
Brethren church, of the liberal branch of 
which he has been connected forty-seven 
years and for many years has been a trus- 
tee and class leader. 

Mr. Hoopengarner may not only be 
termed a Republican in his politics, but an 
arden and faithful member of his party. 
He is a Republican from conviction and 
not from persuasion, being capable of 
judging for himself in politics as in all 
things else, and of this fact his progress 
through life has given ample proof. He 
has probably done as much in developing 
Union township as any man of his age who 
lias resided in the township for the same 
length of time. He and his family, as has 
already been intimated, are among the 
most highly esteemed people of the town- 
ship and none are, it may be truthfully as- 
serted, more deservedly entitled to the es- 
teem in which thev are held. 



JOHN JONES. 

Among the oldest settlers of Union 
township, Wells county, Indiana, is John 
Jones, who was born in Wayne county, 
Lidiana, May 9. 1831, a son of Samuel 



and Nancy (Walker) Jones, who came to 
Indiana from North Carolina, in which 
last named state Samuel Jones was born 
and reared. 

John Jones was but five years of age 
when death deprived him of his father, at 
which time he went to live with an uncle, 
John Felts, with whom he remained until 
he had attained his majority. In the mean- 
time, however, in 1847. Mr. Felts came to 
Wells county and settled on the farm on 
which young Jones was reared to man- 
hood and assisted in developing. Owing 
to the constant demand for his labor in 
accomplishing the task of clearing up this 
place, the opportunities of attending 
school were but few, and at the age of 
twenty-one he found himself to be not 
only without an education, but without 
cash. But at his majority Mr. Jones was 
possessed of a robust constitution and his 
general health was all that could be de- 
sired. Moreover he was filled with am- 
bition and determination, and he worked 
hard to earn the money he knew he need- 
ed when the time for his marriage should 
come about. This happy event took place 
January 29. 1857, when he led to the altar 
Miss Sarah J. Kohr. a native of Ohio. 
This union has resulted in the following 
named children: Rosa, now^ the wife of 
Stephen D. Caley; Mary J., who is mar- 
ried to Ephraim Nicholson; William, 
who married a daughter of John M. 
\\"aters : Frank, who is married to Elma 
Lawrence; John A., who married Minta 
Hill; E. S., unmarried, and Delia, who 
is the wife of Waldo Salter. The family of 
Mr. Jones have been reared in the faith of 
the Christian church, of which he has him- 
self been a member ever since childhood and 



5i6 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



to the support of whicli he and his chil- 
dren have been and still are liberal con- 
tributors financially. All are sincere in 
their profession of the faith and live strict- 
ly up to its teachings. 

In politics Mr. Jones is an enthusiastic 
Democrat and is one of the most active 
workers for his party in Union township. 
Notwithstanding the fact that he has 
never been habitually an office-seeker, he 
has, on account of his personal merits and 
undeniable qualifications, been selected 
by his fellow citizens to fill the office of 
supervisor for Union township, the duties 
of which position he performed in a most 
satisfactory manner, and he has also serv- 
ed as school director and on the election 
board. 

Having been a resident of Wells 
county since childhood, or for more than 
half a century, Mr. Jones is fully acquaint- 
ed with the needs, wishes and desires of 
the people of his township and county and 
is therefore well qualified for aiding in fram- 
ing and administering such measures as re- 
dound to the benefit of the community. His 
life has been been one without reproach, and 
in all his business transactions he has been 
straightforward and upright. Without 
being parsimonious or niggardly, he has 
succeeded in acquiring a fair share of this 
world's goods as a reward for his industry 
and judicious manner of living, has an 
open hand to those in need or who have 
been less fortunate than himself and was 
never known to turn away from his door 
unassisted any person who applied to him 
for relief. He has reared his children in 
respectability and is himself one of the 
most honored citizens of Union town- 
ship. 



CHRIST STOGDILL. 

One of the leading young farmers of 
Harrison township. Wells county, Indi- 
ana, and one of the most successful, is 
Christ Stogdill, who was born in Mahon- 
ing county, Ohio, August 25, 1845, and is 
a son of Anthony and Catherine Stogdill. 
The ancestors of these parents were farm- 
ing people as far back as can be traced and 
this calling is still the favorite pursuit of 
the surviving descendants. Anthony Stog- 
dill removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio 
with his family and first located in Ma- 
honing county, where he resided some 
time, but in September, 1850, he moved 
to Adams county, Indiana, where his 
death occurred in i860. He was a leading- 
member of the ?kIethodist Episcopal 
church of his neighborhood and was 
prominently identified also with the 
Democratic party, and under its auspices 
served as trustee for a number of years 
and also as a justice of the peace. His in- 
dustrial efYorts were largely devoted to 
the raising of stock, from which he re- 
alized handsome results, having become 
one of the principal breeders in Adams 
county. 

Christ Stogdill, the subject of this 
sketch, is the only surviving member of 
his father's family. He was reared on a 
farm and naturally enough chose agricul- 
ture for his life vocation. He had, how- 
ever, received a good common school edu- 
cation and in his early days had become 
competent to teach, a profession he fol- 
lowed for some time before he settled 
down to farming. He maintained his resi- 
dence as a renter on the old homestead 
until 1898, when he purchased a part of 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



517 



the place and continued to rent the re- 
maining part until later in the same year. 

Mr. Stogdill married, January i, i86g, 
Miss Mary Crist, who was born in Wells 
county, October 5. 1847, ^^'^ ^ daughter 
of Leonard and Barbara Crist, of Wells 
county. Mr. Crist was an excellent busi- 
ness man, and was one of the leading 
farmers and stock raisers of his county. 
Mr. Stogdill sold his farm in Adams 
county in 1898 and purchased the old 
Hopkins farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres in Harrison township. Wells county, 
and is now recognized as one of the best 
agriculturists in the neighborhood. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Stogdill have been born 
eight children, as follows: William F., 
born September 28, 1869, died September 
27. 1875; Ulala, born August 11, 1871, 
died January 20, 1903; Elizabeth, born 
March 19, 1873; William F., born Decem- 
ber 7, 1874; Victor, born October 26, 
1877; Clarence, born September 17, 1879; 
Bertie, born August 8, 1881, died June 24, 
1900, and Mary Viola, born July 8, 1884. 

Fraternally Mr. Stogdill stands high as 
a Mason, holding membership in Bluffton 
Lodge. Politically he is a Democrat, with 
which party he is prominently identified. 
He is a most useful and public-spirited citi- 
zen and is ready at all times to contribute 
his full quota of cash to the maintenance 
of the public works in the township, and 
the introduction of others when their ne- 
cessity becomes apparent. Since his resi- 
dence in Wells county, ;Mr. Stogdill has 
estabhshed a fine reputation as a citizen 
and Harrison township is all the better ofif 
by his residence here. Although still a 
young man, he has shown an adaptability 
to his calling that has surprised many old- 



er farmers and his views on agricultural 
matters are greatly respected wherever 
expressed. 



MRS. JACOB B. ^L-VRKLEY. 

Wholly devoted to home and domestic 
duties, doing through all the best years 
of her life the sacred work that comes 
within her sphere, there is not much to 
record concerning the life of the average 
woman. And yet what station so dignified, 
what relation so loving and endearing, 
what office so holy, tender and ennobling 
as those of the home-making wife and 
mother? A celebrated writer has said 
that the future destiny of a nation depend- 
ed upon its wives and mothers. In a 
biographical compendium such as this, 
woman should have no insignificant repre- 
sentation. As man's equal in many re- 
spects, and even his superior in the gentle, 
tender and loving amenities of life, she ful- 
ly merits a much larger notice than she or- 
dinarily receives. The foregoing was sug- 
gested after a perusal of the leading facts 
in the career of the worthy and respected 
lady whose name forms the caption to this 
article, a lady who has done well her part 
and whose career has been a simple, but 
beautiful poem of rugged, toilsome duty 
faithfully and uncomplainingly performed 
as maiden, wife and mother. 

Mrs. Martha Markley, widow of the 
late Jacob B. Markley, is a daughter of 
Samuel and Susan (Jackson) Wallace, and 
was born in Rock Creek township, this 
county, on the 12th of April, 1852. Samuel 
Wallace was a native of Ireland and in 
that country was reared and educated. He 



5i8 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



remained tliere until he was twenty-eight 
years old, when, in 1833, he came to 
America, where he believed better oppor- 
tunities existed. He landed in Philadel- 
phia, where he worked as a laborer for a 
short time, and about 1837 came to Wells 
county and entered a tract of land in 
Rock Creek township. The land was wild 
and unimproved, but he was strong, ener- 
getic and ambitious and in course of time 
succeeded in creating for himself a com- 
fortable home and a valuable farm. He 
was united in marrige, in 1840, with Miss 
Susan Jackson, a native of North Caro- 
lina, but whose parents were among the 
first settlers in Liberty township, this 
county. To them were born thirteen chil- 
dren, as follows: Fannie, Rachael, Anna, 
James, David, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mar- 
tha, Mary, Thomas, Matthew, Finley, and 
one that died in infancy unnamed. Samuel 
Wallace was a firm and uncompromising 
Republican in politics and in religious be- 
lief was a Presbyterian. 

Martha Wallace was early taught the 
lessons of successful housekeeping, grow- 
ing into a well developed and graceful 
womanhood, and was given the advant- 
ages of as good an education as the 
schools of that day afforded. On the 24th 
of April, 1872, she was united in marriage 
with Jacob B. Markley, who was a resi- 
dent of Harrison township, though born 
in Ohio and coming to Wells county in 
1864. To this union were born the follow- 
ing children : Arthur Wallace married 
Anna Markley and resides in Lancaster 
township; Bessie Florence, who was edu- 
cated in the Northern Indiana Normal School 
and subsequently taught four terms. She be- 
came the wife of Archie Norton and re- 



sides in Winters, Michigan ; Lora Jane at- 
tended the normal schools at Danville and 
Valparaiso and then taught three terms 
of school at Newville, Indiana ; she was 
married April i, 1902, to ArHe Thomp- 
son and now resides in Ft. Wayne, Indi- 
ana; Carl Boyd; Ruth Agnes. Mr. 
Markley was a stanch Republican and took 
a keen interest in the trend of passing 
events. He was a man of more than or- 
dinary energy, sound judgment and su- 
perior business abilities, and as a farmer 
took high rank, being regarded as an up- 
to-date agriculturist, a man of broad in- 
telHgence and a leader in enterprises for 
the general prosperity of the community. 
Since her husband's death Mrs. Mark- 
ley has manifested business abilities of a 
high order in the management of the es- 
tate. She is of a sincerely religious na- 
ture, belonging, with her children, to the 
Presbyterian church, and her life has 
abounded in good works in the church and 
among the deserving poor in the world 
outside. She is held in the highest es- 
teem and numbers warm-hearted friends 
by the score in the community where she 
has spent so many years. She has ex- 
perienced many of life's vicissitudes, and 
sorrows, but she has also enjoyed many 
of its triumphs and is now surrounded 
by those who ha\-e long known and re- 
spected her. 



EDWIN R. DAVIS. 

One of the most prominent young na- 
tive-born farmers of Harrison township. 
Wells county, Indiana, is Edwin R. Davis, 
who had his nativity October 14, 1854, on 



WELLS COUNTY, IXDL\NA. 



519 



the farm of his parents, Josiah and Har- 
riet (Grove) Davis. Josiah Davis was 
born in Hocking county. Ohio, July 12, 
1825, acquired more than a usually good 
common school education in his native 
county, and there was reared to farming 
and followed the vocation there until 
about 1852, when he came to Wells 
county, Indiana, and purchased a tract of 
land in Harrison township, where he pass- 
ed the remainder of his life, dying in i885, 
his widow being still a resident on the 
original purchase. ]Mr. Davis was a de- 
vout and consistent member of the United 
Brethren church, and in politics was a 
stanch Republican, although he never had 
any desire for office holding. To Josiah 
and Harriet (Grove) Davis were born two 
sons and two daughters, and of these four 
children three still survive, namely : Edwin 
R., in whose interest this biographical notice 
is chiefly prepared; Emma A., wife of 
Lewis Cobbum; Henry S.. who is married 
to Grace Wolf and resides in Chester 
township, Wells county. 

Edwin R. Davis was reared on the par- 
ental farm in Harrison township, was edu- 
cated in the common schools of his district 
and was thoroughly disciplined in the vo- 
cation of agriculture. He continued to 
live on the old homestead until his mar- 
riage, which took place January 16. 1879. 
to ]\Iiss Sarah E. King, daughter of 
George W. and Catherine King and born 
December 24. i860. This union had been 
crowned by the birth of four daughters, 
namely : Wyomah, who was born Decem- 
ber II, 1880, was graduated from the com- 
mon school of Harrison township in 1895 
and later attended the Angola Normal 
School, and then taught in Wells county 



for four terms; Winnonah, who was born 
January 16, 1882, graduated from the com- 
mon schools in 1896, attended the Angola 
Normal School six terms and has been 
teaching in Wells county four terms ; Net- 
tie, who was born April 26, 1886, was 
graduated from the common schools in 
1902, and is now a student at the Poneto 
high school. ]Mrs. Davis and her daugh- 
ters are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church at Poneto, to the support of 
which they are most liberal contributors, 
and quite active in its work for the general 
good. 

In politics 'Sir. Davis is a Republican 
in his proclivities, but is not offensively 
partisan. He is, nevertheless, well and 
favorably known in Harrison township 
and other parts of W'ells county, and 
doubtless would make a good race were 
h(" exer to become a candidate for public 
position. He is highly esteemed for his 
many personal qualities, and in the social 
circles of Harrison township he and his 
wife maintain exalted positions and are 
hisrhlv esteemed bv all who know them. 



LEWIS M. JOHNSON. 

Of the many influential families of 
Wells county, few have resided there 
longer, made a deeper or more lasting im- 
pression on the history oi the county or 
wielded more influence for good than has 
the Johnson family of Harrison township. 
It is now more than sixty-five years since 
the progenitors of the family came to 
Wells county. On the 24th day of Sep- 
tember, 1837, Abraham W. Johnson lo- 



520 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



cated in the upper valley of the Wabash, 
entering one hundred and sixty acres of 
government land. He was then twenty- 
three years old, having been born in Darl- 
ington township, Beaver county, Pennsyl- 
vania, July 14, 1814. Settlers in this lo- 
caHty were not numerous and if the land 
he selected was not all that he could de- 
sire, it must have been his own fault, for 
he had many thousands of acres to select 
from. For one year thereafter he vibrated 
between his claim and Huntington, the 
nearest approach to a town in that part of 
Indiana. After clearing and improving 
his claim for two or more years, he, on 
the 7th of May, 1840, was married to Miss 
Jennie S. Henderson, daughter of Daniel 
and Sarah Henderson, who were natives 
of Fayette county. Ohio. One of the chil- 
dren born to this union was Lewis M. 
Johnson. Aljraham Johnson, the great- 
grandfather of Lewis, was Scotch-Irish, 
as was his wife, Rachael McCammon. 
Their son, Robert Johnson, was born and 
reared in Washington county, Pennsyl- 
Aania, but was married in Beaver county 
to the daughter of Edward Bradford, a 
native of Wales, and Mary Bartly, of Eng- 
lish parentage, who was born in Norfolk, 
Virginia. Robert resided in that county 
until 1847 when he came to Wells county 
that he might be near his son. Here he 
resided, surrounded by his children ind 
children's children, until death, in the 
eighty-sixth year of his age, having sur- 
vived his companion about ten years. To 
Abraham W. Johnson and wife ten chil- 
dren were born, viz: Isaac N., Rebecca 
J.. Catherine E., Harriet A., Mary M., 
Lewis M., John W., Maggie B., Walter 
B. and Roscoe C. Isaac entered the 



service of his country during the Civil war 
and participated in many of the hottest en- 
gagements, receiving a wound that has 
rendered him a criple for life. 

In 1840 the Johnson family moved to 
Blufifton, but three years later secured a 
tract of one hundred and ten acres just 
outside the city limits. In 1850 Abraham 
W. Johnson was appointed real estate ap- 
praiser for the county, serving as such 
with fidelity and honor. For many years 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were consistent 
memliers of the Baptist church, remaining 
true to the faith until the close of life. He 
died July 6. 1899, and his wife July 25, 
1900. 

Lewis M. Johnson is the second son 
and tenth child of Abraham W. and Jen- 
nie Bradford Johnson and was born Janu- 
ary 30, 1858. He was reared upon the 
old farm and was trained in the honorable 
calling of an agriculturist. At an early 
age, in addition to doing much of the 
work on the farm, he worked for neigh- 
bors, often using his father's team. On 
April 10, 1883. he was united in marriage 
to Miss Rachael Shimp, a native of Ohio. 
She died of consumption September 10, 
1890. and he then married Miss Dora 
Ratlifif on September 17, 1893. She also 
died from the same disease May 24, 1895, 
and July 13, 1896, Mr. Johnson married 
his present wife, her name being Nancy 
E. Summers, of Jefiferson township, this 
county, who was born April 14, 1867, and 
the daughter of Joseph and Victoria Sum- 
mers. One child was born to this union. 
Garth A., born July 9, 1899, and died 
September 12th of the same year. 

Starting in life poor and depending 
chiefly upon his own exertions for ad- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



521 



vancement, with limited opportunities, Mr. 
Johnson has achieved well merited success, 
being the owner of ninety-four acres of 
good land adjoining the city limits of Bluff- 
ton, as well as several valuable residence 
properties in the city, all of which ma- 
terially contribute toward a handsome in- 
come. He is a member of Lodge No. 
92. K. P., of Bluffton, and politically he is 
a Republican. His genial personality has 
won and retained for him a host of warm 
and true friends. 



W. K. SHOEMAKER. 

This ex-soldier of the Civil war and a 
prosperous farmer of Harrison township, 
Wells county, Indiana, was born in Mahon- 
ing county, Ohio, December 20, 1842, and is 
of English extraction. When twelve years 
old. he was brought by his parents, John and 
Rachael Shoemaker, to Wells county He 
attended schools in Bluffton until the family 
removed to a farm near town, when, being 
then sixteen years old, he was set to work 
clearing and doing such other work as he 
was capable of. Febniary i, 1865, he en- 
listed in Capt. B. F. Wiley's company, One 
Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, and was mustered out with his reg- 
iment in September, 1865, when he returned 
home and resumed work on his father's 
farm, until April, 1873, when he settled upon 
his present farm, which now contains two 
hundred and seventeen acres. It is well 
improved with commodious and substantial 
buildings, well adapted to the intended pur- 
pose. 

Mr. Shoemaker has been twice married. 



the first time, April 2, 1868, to Mrs. Lydia 
A. (Ewing) Heckathorn. Her son was 
reared by Mr. Shoemaker and, adopting his 
name, grew to manhood as D. E. Shoe- 
maker, and is now master engineer for the 
American Strawboard Company at Ander- 
son, Indiana. Mrs. Shoemaker died July 
24, 1885, and his second marriage occurred 
April 19, 1888, when i\Irs. Jane (Pence) 
Higgins, a daughter of James and Lydia 
(Chalfant) Higgins, became his wife. This 
marriage has been crowned with two chil- 
dren, Lizzie H. and George \\'. The great- 
grandfather of Mr. Shoemaker came from 
England to Maryland, where his grandfather 
was born, while his father was born in Ohio. 
Mr. Shoemaker, in his political affilia- 
tions, has ever been a Republican, and has 
never hesitated to advocate the principles of 
his party on suitable occasions. He believes 
in the all-comprehensive mercy of the" Deity 
"who doeth all things well," and is a man of 
energy, thrift and enterprise, enjoying the 
respect and confidence of all who know him. 



GEORGE LEIST. 

George Leist. who stands among the 
up-to-date farmers of WeWs county, is a 
native son of the Hoosier state, having 
been born in Harrison township on the 2d 
of February, 1843. His parents, Henry 
G. and Leah (Loy) Leist, were natives of 
Pickaway county, Ohio, and were there 
married. In 1842 they came to Wells 
county and entered a tract of land near 
Reiffsburg, the place on which Reuben 
Stout now resides. The land was at that 
time covered with a heavv growth of 



522 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



timber, which he succeeded in clearing 
away and creating for his family a com- 
fortable home. He and his wife resided on 
this place until their deaths and during 
their long residence there they retained 
the warm friendship and regard of a large 
circle of friends. Politically he was affiliat- 
ed with the Democratic party. His re- 
ligious creed was that of the IMethodist 
Episcopal church, of which he was a loyal 
and consistent member. He was the 
father of six children, Jacob. Sarah, Eliza- 
beth, Catherine. ]\Iary, deceased, and 
George. 

George Leist was reared upon the par- 
ental homestead and in the subscription 
schools of the neighborhood attained his 
education. He bore his full share in the 
cultivation of the farm and remained at 
home until he was thirty-seven years old, 
farming for his father as well as on his 
own land. In 1893 he bought the farm 
west of Blufifton, on which he now resides, 
and has since been solely engaged in its 
cultivation. 

On the nth of ALirch, 1880, :\Ir. 
Leist was united in marriage with Aliss 
Susan Myers, the daughter of ]\Iichael 
Myers, and to their union have come six 
children. Lulu, Arlia, John, Gracie, Laura 
and Clara, deceased. In political matters 
Mr. Leist's vote and influence are cast in 
favor of the Democratic party, though he 
does not seek official distinction. He is a 
man of pleasing presence, genial in man- 
ner and conversation and his social quali- 
ties as well as his sterling characteristics 
have made him popular with a large class 
of citizens. Mr. Leist is a reader and 
thinker, is well informed on general topics 
and spares no pains to keep himself in 



touch with the trend of modern thought. 
A close observer of current events, he has 
well defined opinions upon political, 
economic, sociological and kindred sub- 
jects. He is an honest, straightforward 
and conscientious man in all his dealings, and 
it is with pleasure that this brief synopsis 
of his life and tribue to his worth as a fac- 
tor in his community is given a place in 
this volume. 



TOHN N. NEFF. 



This prosperous farmer and stock raiser, 
with his residence in Harrison township, 
\\'ells county, Indiana, was born in Athens 
county, Ohio, January 29, 1858, and when 
six years of age was brought by his parents, 
Levi and Rebecca (Goodspeed) Nefif, to the 
township and county in which he still has his 
home. Mr. Nefif is one of the most exten- 
sive farmers and successful stock raisers of 
his day, and his earliest ambition, to become 
a first-class agriculturist and to own one of 
the best farms in the county, has been fully 
realized. He was educated in the common 
schools of Wells county, and Harrison town- 
ship has always been his abiding place. Mr. 
Neff started in his business career by pur- 
chasing a forty-acre tract of land with money 
he had saved from his earnings at ditching, 
but by careful and prudent investment and 
wise and judicious management, as well as 
untiring industry, is now the owner of a 
good farm, improved with fine buildings, un- 
excelled by any others in the county in ap- 
pearance, convenience of construction and 
substantiality. 

In politics Mr. Neff has always affiliated 



WELLS COUNTY, INDLANA. 



523 



with the Democratic party, with which he 
acti\ely co-operates on all occasions. Al- 
though he has ever held himself aloof from 
office seeking, against his own wishes he was 
elected by a large majority to the office of 
trustee of his home township in 1890, and- 
filled the position for five years, to the satis- 
faction of all parties concerned. A number 
of fine improvements were made during his 
term as trustee, introducing modern methods 
in handling all matters pertaining to the of- 
fice. As trustee Mr. Nefif was a firm up- 
holder of good roads and substantial school 
houses, a number of which stand to his credit. 

Fraternally Mr. \efif is a member of 
Bluiifton Lodge Xo. 92. Knights of Pythias. 
ReligioAisly he is a Methodist and for many 
years has been a trustee in his church and 
has been very ardent in the promotion of its 
interest. He contributes freely in a finan- 
cial way to its support, lives strictly in ac- 
cordance with its teachings, and his neigh- 
bors all know him to be kind and benevolent, 
as well as public spirited and ready at all 
times to do anything in his power to help 
along such enterprises as will redound to- 
ward the betterment of the community. 

John N. Nefif has been twice married, 
his first wife, whom he married February 
27, 1884, being Miss Louisa Shoemaker, who 
was born April 14, 1861. She bore him one 
son. Samuel, born July 23, 1887, but was 
herself most untimely called away Septem- 
lier 9, 1887. Samuel is an exceptionally 
liright and kind lad and a great aid to his 
father. Although but fifteen years of age, 
any person seeing him going over his own 
farm of eighty acres, in which he takes 
pride, would imagine him to be an agricul- 
turist of vast experience, and with a little 
more instruction from his father there can 



be no doubt that Samuel will make as good 
a husbandman as John N. himself. The 
second marriage of Mr. Nefif was with 
Rachael E. Linn and took place July 20, 
1889. This union has been crowned with 
five children, viz : Edson, born June 2, 1890 ; 
Cora, born January 7, 1892; Vesta, born 
March 31, 1895; Evart, born August 18, 
1897, and Frank, born July 10, 1899. The 
home of Mr. Xeff is delightfully happy, as 
Mrs. Xeff is a most excellent housekeeper 
and Mr. Nefif a liberal and cheerful provider. 
The children are among the most respected 
residents of the township and county. Mr. 
X'eff is noted for his promptitude in business 
engagements, and his bare word is as good 
with those who have dealings with him as 
his note. His greatest interest in his farm- 
ing operations is centered in breeding Ches- 
ter White hogs. 



BENJAMIN P. S^HTH. 

The present trustee of Harrison town- 
ship, Wells county, Indiana, and one of 
the most popular and able of the town- 
ship's officials is Benjamin P. Smith, who 
was born in Fairfield count}-, Ohio, Octo- 
ber 25, 1839, and is a son of Simon B. 
and Martha A. (Hoskinson) Smith. Si- 
mon B. Smith was a native of Westmore- 
land county. Pennsylvania, and came west 
with his mother and step-father, who lo- 
cated in Ohio. He then came to W^ells 
county, Indiana, and purchased a tract of 
land in section 31, upon which he settled 
ii: 1844. This tract was covered with hard 
timber and comprised a quarter section, 
which he developed into a first class farm 



524 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and resided upon until his death, which 
occurred in 1888, liis wife surviving until 
1891. In politics Mr. Smith was a Demo- 
crat and for many years served as a jus- 
tice of the peace. He was a shrewd busi- 
ness man and by trade was a blacksmith, 
a vocation he followed in conjunction with 
farming, being well-to-do at the time of 
his death, which took place in the faith of 
the United Brethren church, of which he 
was an ardent and active member. The 
children born to Simon B. and Martha A. 
Smith were ten in number and were named 
in order of birth as follows : Sarah, de- 
ceased; Benjamin P., whose name opens 
this biographical notice ; Michael, who is 
farming in Jennings county, Indiana; 
William, deceased; Phebe, wife of John 
McKim; Louisa, married to William 
Metty, an old soldier residing in Kane, 
Pennsylvania : Freddie, deceased ; and 
Minerva, Elzina and Simon, also deceased. 
Benjamin P. Smith was nearly five 
years of age when brought to Wells 
county, arriving" here October 18, 1844. 
He was reared on his father's farm and 
was also employed considerably in lum- 
bering, receiving in the meantime a dis- 
trict school education, which was aug- 
mented by an attendance at a subscription 
school. After attaining his majority, he 
rented his father's and his father-in-law's 
farms, having married, in 1870, Miss Eliza 
Davenport, a sister of Dr. E. P. Daven- 
port and born in Wells county in 185 1, of 
English and Dutch descent. Miss Daven- 
port was a highly educated young lady 
and for four terms taught in graded 
school with eminent success in this town- 
ship and at other places. To the happy 
union of Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Smith have 



been born two children, viz : William R. 
is married to Lizzie Huffman and rents 
the home farm, and Martha, who died at 
the age of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
are members of the Baptist church. In 
politics Mr. Smith is a Democrat and has 
been prominently identified with the party 
ever since he has been entitled to exercise 
his franchise. He is very popular with the 
party as well as with the public at large. In 
the spring of 1900 ]Mr. Smith was nominated 
by the Democrats as their candidate for 
township trustee, and in the November 
following was elected by a handsome ma- 
jority to fill tlxat responsible ofifice. He 
has filled the office with credit to himself 
and to the entire satisfaction of the people. 
A cardinal principle of his is the mainte- 
nance of good roads and good schools and 
the imposition of light levies, and in the car- 
rying out of this principle he is an un- 
ceasing worker. 

Mr. Smith's farm comprises seventy- 
four acres, on which he conducts not only 
general farming, but makes a specialty of 
breeding Chester White hogs, of which 
he makes an annual exhibit and sale, which 
is patronized by many stockmen of north- 
ern Indiana. He has proved himself to be 
one of the most successful agriculturists 
and stock breeders in the county of Wells, 
and no family in the township and county 
is more respected than his. 



S. E. SHEPHERD. 

S. E. Shepherd was born in Harrison 
township. Wells county, Indiana, January 
29, 1848. His parents, Harrison and Eliza- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



525 



beth Shepherd, were natives of Ohio. His 
grandfather was a soldier of the war of 18 12, 
and located in Ohio soon after peace between 
the United States and Great Britain was de- 
clared, but he did not long survive, and the 
bereaved mother, considering that the newer 
field of eastern Indiana might give to her 
and her children a better opportunity of mak- 
ing their way in the world, moved to Wells 
count}- and entered land, north of the county 
infirmary in Harrison township, where she 
afterwards made her home until death. Mrs. 
Shepherd was a woman of dauntless courage 
and it required women of that kind to brave 
the perils and hardships of pioneer life. How- 
ever, her son Harrison, the oldest of the 
famih\ was a youth who could be relied 
upon. He was a tireless worker, sincere and 
conscientious in all that he did. He cleared 
and developed the land into a good farm and 
home, became interested in the work of edu- 
cation and religion and devoted much time, 
from his own private afifairs for the public 
good. On this farm he lived and labored 
and here his brave, good mother, after years 
of toil and privation for her children, died in 
the sanctity of her Christian faith. Here he 
married Miss Elizabeth Richels; here his 
children were born, reared, educated and 
given their first lessons in good citizenship, 
;\nd here, eventually, after a well spent life, 
he was gathered to his fathers at the age of 
sixty-six yeirs. At the time of his death he 
was financially well-to-do and was the 
owner of two hundred acres of choice land. 
To Harrison and Elizabeth Shepherd were 
born nine children, four of whom are dead. 
They are: Reason, deceased; Daniel, de- 
ceased; S. C, the subject of this sketch; 
Sylvester, deceased ; Arminda, wife of Wal- 
lace Ripple; Ellen G., wife of Lewis H. Col- 



bert; Rosetta, wife of Hiram A. Folk, a 
farmer living upon the old homestead ; Han- 
nah, deceased ; Bertha, wife of E. N. Corey, 
a merchant at Pennville, Indiana. 

L'pon the farm, hewn out of the wilder- 
ness by the industry of his father, S. E. 
Shepherd was born and reared and during 
the fifty-five years of his life he has never 
had a residence outside of Har-rison town- 
ship. In his youth and early manhood he 
worked by the side of his father, and under 
the care and direction of that good man re- 
ceived the advantages of a good common 
school education and later the benefits of a 
knowledge of the higher branches of learn- 
ing in the schools of Blufifton under the 
tutorship of Colonel McClerry. When old 
enough, he became a teacher in the public 
schools of the county and followed that call- 
ing for a number of years. His license was 
always of the highest grade, few in the 
county equalling and none excelling it. W'hen 
in his twenty-fourth year, October 26, 1871, 
he was united in marriage to Minerva C. 
King, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth 
( Bolander) King, who were natives of Ohio, 
but liad emigrated to Indiana and located 
near the present site of Craigville, Lancas- 
ter township. Mrs. Shepherd is a lady of 
good education, amiable disposition and 
many accomplishments. For a year after 
their marriage they resided upon and culti- 
vated part of the old Shepherd homestead, 
but then purchased one hundred acres in 
Harrison township, where he now resides. 
It then consisted principally of woods, but 
did not remain long in that condition imder 
its new owner. He immediately erected a 
substantial and commodious barn, forty by 
seventy feet, and a well arranged residence. 
This farm is now well drained, fenced and 



526 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



splendidly improved, and is recognized as one 
of the most productive farms, for corn, in 
the county. In favorable seasons Mr. Shep- 
herd has raised as high as eighty-five bush- 
els to the acre. His favorite products are 
corn, hogs and clover and out of these he 
Ijas made the greater part of the competence 
which he now enjoys. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Shepherd have been born three children, as 
follows : Leora E. was born February 23, 
1873, received a good education and is now 
the wife of Walter L. Fetters, of Bluffton; 
Alma E. was the wife of Dr. H. W. Mark- 
ley, but died August 13, 1901 : Rosanna E. 
li\es at home. 

Politically Mr. Shepherd has always af- 
filiated with the Democratic party, in the 
success of which he has always taken an ac- 
tive part. For seventeen }-ears he has served 
his township as justice of the peace and 
notary public. For some years he has been 
employed as a general agent for patent rights, 
and in this capacity has travelled over many 
states, among them Indiana. Illinois, Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee, Geor- 
gia. Alabama and Kentucky. During these 
travels he has acquired a fund of information 
about each locality and its people. With the 
qualities mentioned it is needless to say that 
he has been most successful in every line of 
business he has undertaken. 



ROBERT F. GAVIN. 

A single statement will sometimes give 
a far better insight into the character, dis- 
position and mental trend of a person than 
would the contents of a volume. In these 
days of party strife, when the political 



organization is supreme, to say of a man 
or to have a man say of himself that he 
"never voted a straight ticket in his life" 
is to say that he is a man of independence, 
a man with the courage of- his con^'ictions. 
a man of marked and pronounced individu- 
ality. Robert F. Gavin, of Liberty town- 
ship, makes that assertion regarding him- 
self, and in doing so inadvertently pays 
himself a very high compliment. It is such 
votes as his that "turn the rascals out" of 
office and keep them out. Whatever the 
partisan politician may say, there is no 
question but that the independent voter is 
the true patriot. 

Robert F. Gavin was born in the city 
of Galway, Ireland, December 11, 1838. 
His parents were George and Mary (Ben- 
ton) Gavin, he of Kings county and she of 
Queens county, in the province of Leins- 
ter. Ireland. His parents were James and 
Mary Gavin, while her father was Henry 
Benton, who for many years was connect- 
ed with the customs department of the gov- 
ernment in Ireland. February 23, 1838, 
George and Mary were united in marriage 
in the cathedral in the city of Galway, and 
for ten years thereafter he was connected 
with the royal Irish constabulary. The 
family emigrated to America in 1848, land- 
ing in the city of New York. They did 
not tarry long in New York, but came to 
Ross county, Ohio. There he engaged in 
farming until 1854. when they moved to 
Wells county, established themselves upon 
a rented farm in Harrison township. There 
they remained until 1857, when they 
moved to Lilierty township, having 
bought eighty acres of land in the woods. 
When he arrived in America he possessed 
some five hundred or six hundred dollars, 



WELLS COUNTY. INDLA.NA. 



527 



but by industry and economy he succeed- 
ed in accumulating a handsome property, 
so that at his death he was recognized as 
one of the most substantial farmers of the 
county, being the owner of two hundred 
and ten acres. He died December 11. 
1882, being survived by his wife about 
three years. 

To George and Mary Gavin eight chil- 
dren were born, viz: Robert F. ; Mary A., 
deceased : Sarah, wife of Harrison Snow, 
resides in Marshall county, Kansas; Hen- 
retta died on the voyage across the At- 
lantic and was buried at sea ; James B. 
is a resident of Liberty township. Wells 
countv; Henry J-. and Eliza, both deceas- 
ed. 

Even as a child Robert F. Gavin was 
imbued with ambition and thirst for 
knowledge, and although but ten years 
old when he arrived in America, he was 
by no means a novice in the common 
school branches. In mathematics he es- 
pecially excelled, for it is a current belief 
in Ireland that a man who pretends to 
learning without a thorough knowledge of 
figures, is either an impostor or an igno- 
ramus. Problems in the "voster." the 
Irish arithmetic, that were quite easy of 
solution to him, would puzzle many an 
older head. Here he attended the district 
schools and had the benefit of one term in 
the seminary at ]\Iurray, Indiana. In 
1859 he entered the school room as a 
teacher and continued that occupation 
each vear during the winter months until 
1871.' 

March 4. 1866. Mr. Gavin was united 
in marriage to Miss Martha McFarren, 
daughter of Jacob and Rachael (Foust) 
McFarren. Jacob McFarren was a native 



of Pennsylvania, the son of John and 
Elizabeth McFarren, also natives of that 
state. When Jacob was a small boy his 
parents emigrated to Highland county, 
Ohio, where he grew to manhood and 
married Rachael Foust, March 4, 1841. 
That same year the young couple moved 
to Huntington county, Indiana, and there 
^lartha was born, February 27, 1842. In 
1857 Jacob mo\-ed to Liberty township, 
Wells county, where he and his wife spent 
the remainder of their days. She died 
October 10, 1873, his own demise occur- 
ring August 24, 1895. To them were born 
ten children, viz : Martha A.. George F.. 
John, deceased, Andrew, Sarah. Jonathan, 
\\'illiam, Mary. Emma and Joseph ]\I. 
Soon after marriage the subject and his 
wife settled on the place now owned by 
M. Johnson. He had one horse, and his 
wife a cow. but he cleared some thirty 
acres and in 1871 sold to Absalom Funk 
and purchased one hundred and fifty acres 
of the farm upon which he now lives. The 
land was wet. wild and wooded when he 
got it. but it is now a most desirable, pro- 
ductive farm of three hundred acres. He 
also owns one hundred and sixty acres in 
section 24. In addition to managing his 
big farm and other interests, he has been 
interested in a grain elevator at Poneto 
for several years, his partners being H. A. 
Man. Frank Kizer and \\'illiam Walker. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Gavin eight children 
have been born, viz: George; Rachel A. 
married C. B. McAdam and they are the 
parents of two children. Arthur E. and 
an infant daughter, deceased; Mary J. 
married Charles P. Eaton and died Decem- 
ber 14. 1 89 1 ; John F. ; Winona married W. 
H. Weinland. 'Sla.y 22. 1895. and they have 



528 



WELL5 COUNTY, INDIANA. 



one child, lantha Ann ; \A'illiaiTi ; Austin, 
and James H., who died at the age of 
five years. John and Austin have attended 
the Marion Normal School, the former 
teaching for a time. Mr. Gavin is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Protestant church, 
holding membership at Blanch chapel, of 
which he is trustee. His wife belongs to 
the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Poneto. He is a member of the I. O. O. 
F., being treasurer of Poneto Lodge No. 
752. In politics he is as free and inde- 
pendent as the breezes of the plains, be- 
ing bound by no party ties or hedged in 
by any organization. His vote is his own, 
not being influenced by any man, set of 
men, circles, clique or political party. 



LEWIS A. MINXIEAR. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of 
Huntington county, Indiana, and the son of 
Joseph and Rachael A. (Searles) Minniear. 
Joseph's parents were Isaac and Lydia Min- 
niear, natives of Virginia and Ohio. They 
moved to Huntington county as early as 
1838, but after a residence there of about 
twelve years changed their abode to the coun- 
t}- of Wabash, where they spent the remain- 
der of their lives, Isaac dying May 9, 1855, 
his wife surviving him until about the year 
1870. To this couple were born fourteen 
children, whose names are as follows : Lucin- 
da. Charity, Minerva, Nancy, Tabitha, John, 
Isaac, Charles, Frances, W^illiam, j\Iary, 
Blufiford, Joseph and Lydia. 

Joseph Minniear, the thirteenth of the 
family, was reared to maturity in the 
counties of Huntington and Wabash, | 



and by reason of the death of his father 
was early in life obliged to assume the re- 
sponsibihty of caring for his widowed moth- 
er and provide means for his own support. 
On the 4th day of July, 1861, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Rachael Ann Searles, 
who was born near Lebanon, Ohio, June 6, 
1841, the daughter of William and Char- 
lotte Searles, the father a native of England, 
the mother of Ohio. William Searles was 
born about one hundred miles from London 
and grew to young manhood in the land of 
his nativity. His mother having found a 
home in the United States, William and his 
brother Thomas decided about ten years af- 
ter she had left England to join her in the 
new world. Accordingly they made their 
way to the harbor from which they were to 
sail and on applying for passage found all 
but one berth engaged for the voyage. Which 
of the two should have this berth was now 
the question. The brothers had a long and 
bitter controversy over the matter and would 
perhaps have settled it by a resort to iisticufifs 
had not the captain interfered by persuading 
Thomas, who was the older, to wait for the 
next vessel. In due time he took passage, 
but was ship-wrecked and for some time the 
passengers and crew were without food, 
other than a mere pittance of tallow candle 
allotted to each as his day's rations. The 
vessel was finally sighted and towed to har- 
bor, but the sufferings endured by the immi- 
grants had almost reduced them to living 
skeletons. William Searles settled near Leb- 
anon, Ohio, and for a number of years there- 
after worked at the shoemaker's trade. His 
first wife was Anna Dehaven, who bore him 
three children : Theophilus, Alpheus and 
John, the last named deceased; by his sec- 
ond wife, whose maiden name was Charlotte 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



529 



Parker, a native of Ohio, he was the father 
of children as follows : F. M., Jasper, Jonah, 
Joseph, David and Rachael. Mr. Searles 
finally ceased working at his trade and moved 
to Huntington county, Indiana, where he en- 
tered a tract of government land, from which 
in the course of a few years he developed a 
good farm. He and his wife died on this 
place a number of years ago and their mem- 
ories are still cherished by their descendants 
and by the people of the community who for- 
merly knew them. Ever since his marriage 
Joseph Minniear has lived in Huntington 
county and is today regarded as one of the 
enterprising farmers and progressive men 
of his township. He is the father of nine 
children. 

Lewis A. JMinniear was born October 10, 
1869, on the farm which his maternal grand- 
father purchased from the government and it 
was there that his childhood and early youth 
were spent. He entered the district schools 
at the proper age, continued to attend them 
at intervals until his twenty-first year and 
after attaining his majority took a course in 
the Central Normal College at Danville. Sub- 
sequently, in the fall of 1889, he entered the 
BlufTton Normal School, where he prose- 
cuted his studies one term, at the end of which 
time he again took up the public school work, 
in which he was graduated the followingyear. 
Meantime he became acquainted with the 
more practical affairs of life by beginning 
to work on a farm when but thirteen years 
of age, receiving fifty cents a day for his 
services. Subsequently he labored about 
three years at fifteen dollars per month, dur- 
ing which time he turned over to his mother 
the greater part of his earnings, retaining for 
himself barely sufficient to pay for his cloth- 
ing and to meet a few other necessary ex- 



penses. In the fall of 1886 his wages were 
increased to sixteen dollars per month and 
during the succeeding six years he worked 
diligently with the object in view of ulti- 
mately purchasing land and becoming an 
agriculturist upon his own responsibility. 
Meantime, on the loth of December, 1893, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Viola P. 
Clark, daughter of J. I. and Nancy A. 
(Helm) Clark, and in the latter part of the 
same month moved into a little old log cabin 
which stood on the farm he now owns and cul- 
tivates. In due time this primitive structure 
gave place to the comfortable modern dwell- 
ing which the family now occupies, Mr. Min- 
niear the meanwhile bringing his place to a 
successful state of tillage by careful cultiva- 
tion and a thorough system of tile drainage. 
He has studied closely the science of agri- 
culture, understanding the nature of soils and 
their adaptability to the different products, 
and by a judicious rotation of crops never 
fails to realize abundant returns from his 
labors. Like other successful farmers of the 
county, he has not been backward in the mat- 
ter of stock raising, his breeds of Hereford 
cattle and fine hogs being among the best in 
the township, in addition to which he also 
devotes considerable attention to domestic 
fowls, being especially fortunate in raising 
Plymouth Rocks and Rosecomb Leghorn 
breeds. Mr. Minniear is indebted to his own 
energy and superior management for what 
advancement he has made, as he began life 
for himself with no aid from any other 
source. His well directed industry has been 
crowned with a large measure of success, 
and this, too, when confronted by conditions 
calculated to discourage one of less will 
power. He has always looked upon the 
bright side of life and is optimistic enough 



530 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



to believe that honest toil, when directed by 
sound judgment, cannot fail in the end of 
rewarding those by whom it is exercised. 
Mr. Minniear reads much and is one of the 
well-posted men of his community. He be- 
lieves in education and moral training, uses 
his best endeavor to promote these interests 
in his neighborhood and also lends his in- 
fluence to all movements having for their 
ends the material prosperity of the township 
in which he lives. 

Mr. and Mrs. Minniear have three chil- 
dren, namely: Elmer V., born September 
I, 1894 ; Lloyd, born June 7, 1899, and Clar- 
ence H., whose birth took place on the 21st 
day of December, 1901. Since his twenty- 
second year Mr. Minniear has been a faithful 
and consistent member of the Methodist 
Protestant church, filling a number of im- 
portant official positions in Beemer Chapel, 
with which he is identified, including among 
others those of steward, class leader and 
superintendent of the Sunday school. He is 
an active church worker and a liberal, con- 
tributor to the support of the gospel both at 
home and abroad. Mrs. Minniear united 
with the church when eighteen years old and 
has lived an earnest, devoted Christian life 
from that time to the present. 

At the age of seventeen Mr. Minniear 
was initiated into the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows at Warren, but at this time his 
membership is with Liberty Center Lodge. 
He has passed all the chairs in the latter or- 
ganization and has the reputation of being 
one of its most earnest and zealous workers. 
Politically he was born and reared a Demo- 
crat and has always remained loyal to the old 
historic party of Jefferson and Jackson, de- 
fending its principles at all times and labor- 
ing earnestly for its success when campaigns 



are in progress. He has never asked nor de- 
sired office, but takes an active interest in the 
selection of candidates and spares no reason- 
able effort in working for their success at 
the polls. 



GEORGE M. GAVIN. 

George M. Gavin was born May 23, 
1871, in Liberty township, on the farm up- 
on which he now resides. He is the son of 
J. B. and Rebecca (Hedges) Gavin, to 
whom an independent article is herein de- 
voted. His grandfather was George Gavin, 
who in his native land was a member of 
the royal constabulary (governmental po- 
lice), but who became an educator in Ohio 
and later in Indiana and is so remembered 
by the older citizens. 

Early in life George M. Gavin develop- 
ed a talent for learning. He attended the 
public schools, securing such benefits as 
they could confer until he received a cer- 
tificate to teach, though he continued the 
better to prepare himself by attending the 
State Normal School at Terre Haute. He 
taught six successive years in Liberty. 
Harrison and Chester townships and at- 
tained a high standing among the valued 
educators of the county. Realizing that 
the financial return was not commensur- 
ate with the ability demanded, he opened 
a hardware and undertaking establish- 
ment at Poneto in 1898, which he con- 
ducted successfully for about two years, 
then selling the hardware department and 
continued the undertaking practice. In 
1900 he was elected township trustee, 
largely in recognition of his interests in 
the schools, and, placing his mercantile 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



531 



business in otlier hands, he moved to his 
farm, the same that was owned by his 
grandfather nearly twenty years before 
he was born. He does general farm- 
ing and stock raising, finding the celebrat- 
ed Poland China hogs the most profitable 
source of income. 

December 24, 1892, Mr. Gavin was 
united in marriage to Miss Lucy E. Huff- 
man, a daughter of Frederick and Mary 
(Ruse) Hufifman, natives of Darke county, 
Ohio, he being a son of Henry and Cather- 
ine Huffman. Frederick Huffman now 
lives at Warren, though he formally lived 
in Jackson township. Mr. and Mrs. Gavin 
have one son, James Frederick, born July 25, 
1894. They have also opened their 
hearts and home to two orphan children, 
Mathae and Ralph Irick, they being but 
eleven months old when they became in- 
mates of the Gavin home. These are the 
children of Mrs. Gavin's sister, Phebe 
Catherine, who married George H. Irick, 
both of whom died of typhoid fever and 
within twelve hours of each other, and 
were buried in the same grave in Lawn 
cemetery at Warren. 

Mr. Gavin is a member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, while Mrs. Gavin 
aiifiliates with the German Baptist, or 
Dunkards, each enjoying the privilege of 
worshiping God according to the dictates 
of his own conscience. Mr. Gavin is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows Lodge at Poneto, of which he is 
secretary. He has ever been a Democrat 
and it was upon that ticket he was elected 
township trustee and has the distinction of 
being the youngest man ever elected to 
that office. As trustee his interest in edu- 
cation and theories regarding conduct of 



school ha\e more ample scope than when 
a mere teacher only. Believing in the cen- 
tralization of school effort, he endeavors 
to give his township the benefit of the 
most ad\'anced and tried experience in 
that line. Liberty township now has 
eight schools with fourteen teachers, four 
of them being in the Liberty Center high 
school and four in Poneto. The build- 
ings are all in a first class condition and 
this capable corps of able instructors af- 
fords the youth of the township facilities 
equal to any in the county. 



JACOB J. SMITH. 

Jacob J. Smith was born June 19, 1841, 
in Fairfield county, Ohio, his parents being 
Bartholomew and Mary (Eversole) Smith, 
natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. 
He had come with his parents when they 
moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, in the early 
part of the last century and always lived on a 
farm, both dying in Fairfield county at ad- 
vanced ages. 

The youth and early manhood of Jacob 
J. Smith were spent in his native county of 
Fairfield and he received a fair education in 
the public and subscription schools. For two 
years he had cultivated his father's farm, pre- 
vious to September 2, 1861, when he entered 
the United States service as a volunteer 
soldier, joining Company F, Seventeenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, ser\-ing under 
Captain Rickett, Colonel Collins and Gen- 
eral Cook. He was out two years and four 
months and participated in numerous im- 
portant and sanguinary battles, among them 
being Wild Cat, Kentucky. Mill Spring, Ft. 



53- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Donelson and Shiloh. In the latter part of 
1863 his left arm was fractured and for this 
and other disabilities he was discharged at 
Nashville, Tennessee. While in the hospital 
at Huntsville, Alabama, all of the sick not 
able to be moved were taken prisoners when 
Cook's brigade abandoned that territory. 
All were kept there, treated by rebel sur- 
geons, and in three months he was exchanged 
and sent to the Federal hospital at Nashville, 
from which he was discharged six weeks 
later, and on his way to Louisville he called 
upon his regimental commander, then sta- 
tioned at Gallatin, Tennessee. As a Demo- 
crat he entered the service, fought as a Dem- 
ocrat and has continued to vote as a Demo- 
crat ever since. When he had recovered 
sufficiently he resumed the cultivation of his 
father's farm. 

August 3, 1865, Mr. Smith was married 
to Miss Elizabeth J. Morris, born July 22, 
1844, in Fairfield county, Ohio. Her parents 
were Mitchell and Elizabeth (Hardesty) 
Alorris. Her father was born in Fairfield 
county, Ohio, December 28, 181 2, and re- 
sided on the farm where he was born and 
where his parents originally settled, from his 
birth to his death, a period of eighty-seven 
years. His wife, Elizabeth, who was born 
November 4, 1818, died on the same farm 
some years previous. After marriage the 
young couple found that their united for- 
tunes consisted of a horse, a cow and 
four hundred dollars, the cash and the 
cow belonging to the wife. They rented 
in Ohio and also in Rock Creek town- 
ship. Wells county, coming to it in Octo- 
ber, 1865. After some time they bought 
forty acres in the woods, for a portion of 
which they went in debt. After building a 
house and clearing and improving the place 



they sold it for seven hundred dollars more 
than what the land had cost them, and with 
the money they bought eighty acres, all in 
the woods, in Liberty township. Upon this 
they built a good house and barn, cleared, 
ditched, fenced and improved the place and 
made of it a most valuable and desirable 
farm. On this place they resided twenty- 
seven years, wiien, in 1901, they sold and 
bought one hundred and twenty acres in 
Lancaster township. This was sold in three 
months and another eighty acres in the same 
township purchased, but in four months they 
sold again and returned to Liberty township. 
Here they bought the Joseph Rose farm, 
within one mile of their old place, but this 
also has been sold and a farm of eighty acres 
in Harrison township was purchased. He 
has also residence property in Bluff ton where 
he proposes to take life with more leisure. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob J. Smith six chil- 
dren have been born, viz : Rosetta is the wife 
of Peter Souerwine, of Rock Creek town- 
ship, and they have three children, Virgil, 
Vesta and Daisy; Mary E., who taught 
two years, is now the Avife of Hugh 
W. Fate, of Liberty township, and 
they have three children, Ethel, Clarence and 
Lola; Morris B., a constructor for the Indi- 
ana Bridge Company : .Anetta is the wife of 
Jonathan Falk, of Harrison township, and 
they have three children, Guy, Justine and 
Howard ; Virginia, who married Jacob Eck- 
hart, of Liberty township, died aged twenty- 
two years; James resides. with his parents. 

What Mr. and Mrs. Smith possess today 
has all been made by industry, backed by 
prudence, good judgment and economy. He 
does general farming, including live stock 
growing, and gives preference to Poland 
China hogs and Red Polled cattle. Mr. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



533 



Smith, wife and daughters are members of 
the Friends' church at Pleasant View. He 
belongs to Lewis Dailey Post, G. A. R., at 
BlufFton. His political creed is Democracy. 
The underlying principles of that party, op- 
posed to the centralization of power in the 
general government, has overshadowed 
every minor issue, in his estimation, and 
wedded him to the party of Jefferson and 
Jackson. In that, as in all other matters, he 
is sincere and consistent, believing in the 
widest latitude and fullest liberty of the in- 
dividual, consistent with the good of society. 
It is a matter of regret that more voters of 
this land of freedom do not study those im- 
portant questions of state, and his example 
in this line, as indeed in most others, may 
be safely followed. 



JOHN \\'. SPROWL. 

This ex-soldier of the Civil war, but now 
a peaceful agriculturist in Liberty township, 
\\'ells county, Indiana, and as broad-minded 
in the time of peace as he was patriotic in the 
time of war, was born in Lancaster town- 
ship, Huntington county, Indiana. July 15, 
1845, ^ son of James A. and Elizabeth 
(Wagner) Sprowl. James A. Sprowl was 
born in Virginia, and when young was 
brought to Indiana by his parents, who set- 
tled in Lancaster township, Huntington 
county. Joseph Sprowl. father of James A., 
purchased wild land when he reached the 
country, before the Indians had been ex- 
pelled therefrom, and in that comparative 
wilderness James A. grew to manhood, the 
country in the meantime becoming settled up 
and modernized. James A. there passed the 



remainder of his life, with the exception of 
four j-ears spent in Iowa, and was famous 
among the Indians as a hunter. He lived 
until the ripe age of eighty-six years. The 
children born to James A. and Elizabeth 
Sprowl numbered nine and in order of birth 
were named as follows : Mary A., the Avife 
of James Barton; William, a resident of 
Bluffton ; John W. ; Achasa Jane, widow of 
]\Ir. Collins, lives in Iowa; Susan, the wife of 
Frank Horner; Joseph, a resident of White 
county ; Sarah, married to John Huff ; Fran- 
cis resides in Bluffton ; Miner, wife of John 
Horner, and Christina, who died in child- 
hood. 

John W. Sprowl was reared in Lancaster 
township and at the age of eighteen enlisted 
in Company F, One Hundred and Thirtieth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel 
Perrish and General Sherman. He served 
two years, being honorably discharged at 
Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1865. He had 
taken part in several skirmishes and twelve 
regular battles, including those of Pea 
Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. 

At the cessation of hostilities Mr. Sprowl 
returned to his father's home and assisted on 
the farm until his marriage, July 25, 1867, 
to Miss Isabel Edgar, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania July 13, 1843, a daughter of Atkin- 
son and Mary Ann (Mounsey) Edgar, na- 
tives of England, who came to the LTnited 
States about 1842. They engaged in farm- 
ing in the Keystone state until 1844, when 
they came to Wdh county. Indiana, re- 
mained here about one year and then went 
to Huntington county, where Mr. Edgar 
bought forty acres of farming land, to which 
he added until he owned one hundred and 
sixty acres. This he subsequently sold and 
bought one hundred and sixty acres near 



534 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



^^'arre^, which he also sold, and next pur- 
chased two hundred acres near Kelso, Hun- 
tington county, on which he resided until 
ten or twelve years prior to his death, when 
he went to live with his son John, at whose 
home he passed away in 1891. The mother 
of Mrs. Sprowl died when she was but three 
weeks old, and her father then married Jane 
Mounsey, sister to his first wife, and who 
had come to Indiana with him. Atkinson 
Edgar and first wife had a family of six 
children, viz : Mary, Sarah and John, de- 
ceased ; Jane, widow of Jefferson McElhany ; 
Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Lowery, and 
Isabel. To the second marriage of Mr. Ed- 
gar were also born six children, namely : 
Martha, widow of Napoleon Williams, At- 
kinson, Thomas and three who died in in- 
fancy. 

John W. Sprowl, for two years after his 
marriage, lived with his father-in-law and 
cultivated the farm. He then settled on his 
own farm of eighty acres, which he still oc- 
cupies, but which was then in a swamp deep 
in the woods. Seventy acres of this place 
Mr. Sprowl has cleared up and drained and 
has put under cultivation. When he settled 
here he had two horses, two cows, a few 
pigs and some sheep, and the cabin of logs 
was twenty by eighteen feet, with a framed 
kitchen attached, these improvements hav- 
ing been made by himself. 

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Sprowl have been 
blessed with five children, viz : Lucinda. 
who was born in February, 1869, is now the 
wife of Daniel Masterson, of Liberty town- 
ship, and has two children, Raymond L. and 
Jason ; James A. died at the age of twenty- 
two years; Henry N. is married to Etta 
Medrets and is the father of four children, 
Dora B., John W., Lottie M. and Roy ; Jon- 



athan E. married Celestia Fudge, who bore 
him one child, Otis Elmer, but the father is 
now deceased, being killed by an engine 
while pumping oil ; Rosa B., the youngest 
of the five, was married to Allison Melling, 
but was called away in February, 1896, leav- 
ing two children, Ora O., who has been 
reared by Mr. Sprowl, and Gus M., who died 
when five months old. Mr. Sprowl, who is a 
gentleman of the kindest impulse, has also 
reared Melvin Lucky, whom he took in 
charge when but three weeks old and who 
will soon arrive at his majority. 

Air. and Airs. Sprowl are members of the 
United Brethren church at Mount Zion and 
in politics Mr. Sprowl is a Democrat. He is 
now superintendent of fourteen and three- 
cjuarters miles of gravel road and has at dif- 
ferent times filled various township offices. 
He is one of the most public spirited men in 
his township and is widely and favorably 
known, being ready and williiig at all times 
to aid with his means and advice all pro- 
jects designed to promote the convenience 
and happiness of his fellow citizens. 



JOSEPH B. MOORE. 

The man who has accumulated most in 
the way of worldly wealth is not always the 
man who has accomplished most in life. 
\Miile wealth is desirable, there are other 
things much more so, because of being more 
conducive to happiness. A moral, intelligent, 
well educated and thrifty family is far more 
desirable than great wealth. The combina- 
tion of both, like most other happy combina- 
tions, is to be most desired. The subject of 
this sketch, Joseph B. Moore, is one whose 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



535 



life has been blessed in this regard. He was 
born in Hamilton county, near Strawtown, 
Indiana, September ii, 1838, and here his 
childhood, youth and early manhood were 
spent. During the 'forties there were few 
schools in Indiana, but most neighborhoods 
hoods had a subscription school a number of 
months each year, and it was in these schools 
that the subject received his education. It 
was not what would be considered liberal, 
but was thorough as to the common branches. 
The parents of Joseph B. Moore were 
Cornelius and Elizabeth (Lash) Moore. 
The latter was a native of New Jersey and 
emigrated, when quite young, with her par- 
ents, to eastern Ohio where the family re- 
sided for some time, then moved to Athens, 
Ohio, where she met and married Cornelius 
Moore. After marriage they settled down 
to farming near Athens, where they contin- 
ued until 1834, when they moved to Hamil- 
ton county, Indiana. There they entered a 
tract of one hundred and sixty acres of gov- 
ernment land, erected a humble home and 
proceeded to carve a farm out of the wil- 
derness. When they had been away from 
their relatives and friends in Ohio a num- 
ber of years, and when Joseph B. Moore 
was an infant of only a few months, they 
decided to make a vi^it to their old Ohio 
home. They traveled by wagon, taking w'ith 
them their bedding, and stopping at night at 
farm houses on the way, when they would 
lay their bedding on the floor and repose 
comfortably through the night. One morn- 
ing one of the men of the house where they 
stopped, desiring to help them get ready for 
their journey, picked up the bedding and 
dumped it into the wagon. Later Mrs. 
Moore missed her baby, which was nowhere 
to be found. The child was too vouns: to 



even crawl away, hence what had become of 
him was a mystery. Diligent search finally 
disclosed the little fellow almost smothered 
to death under the pile of bedding that had 
been dumped into the wagon, and he made 
several gasps before he succeeded in regain- 
ing his breath. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius jMoore were the 
parents of nine children, viz : Isaac mar- 
ried Sarah A. Kelley and is now a resident 
of Kansas; Morilla died in early woman- 
hood; Eli died in infancy; Joseph; Mary is 
the widow of James Coster and resides on 
the old Moore homestead in Hamilton coun- 
ty ; George married Rebecca Xance and 
lives in Hamilton county ; Cornelius married 
Catherine \\'hite and lives in Madison 
county, Indiana ; William resides in Hamil- 
ton county, on the old homestead; Anthony 
married Sarah Cuillip and also resides in 
Hamilton county. The father of this fam- 
ily continued to reside upon and cultivate 
the farm entered by him, until his death, 
which occurred many years ago. The mother, 
Airs. Elizabeth Moore, died in 1899, at the 
age of eighty-five years. 

Joseph B. Moore worked for his par- 
ents until he was twent3'-one years of age. 
Starting out in life to work for himself, he 
made a trip to Illinois and worked there 
at farming six months. Returning to Indi- 
ana, he worked for a number of years by the 
day or month for those who had work to do 
until November 15, 1867, when he was 
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kelly, 
born in Carroll county, Ohio, April 7, 1847. 
She was a daughter of Aaron and Susan 
(Stern) Kelly, who were natives of Ohio, 
but who had moved to Hamilton county, 
Indiana, in 1849, when their daughter, Eliz- 
abeth, was only two years old. It is said that 



536 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



Mrs. Kelly and her two children, with all 
their household goods, were conveyed from 
Ohio on the back of one horse, Mr. Kelly 
making the journey on foot. During the 
first few years of their life in Hamilton 
county they lived on rented farm. When Mr. 
Kelly had accumulated sufficient money he 
purchased a tract of eighty acres, land being 
then not nearly as expensive as it has since 
become. This he improved and built a home 
upon it, adding occasionally to the dimensions 
of his farm, by purchase, until at the time of 
his death he was the owner of two hundred 
and seventy acres, splendidly improved and 
thoroughly cultivated. He was torn Janu- 
ary 30, 1820, died February 22, 1873; his 
wife, born July 4, 1823, died February 10, 
1 90 1. They were parents of twelve chil- 
dren, viz : Sarah N., wife of Isaac Moore, 
a resident of Kansas; Elizabeth; Catherine, 
deceased: Anthony married Sina A'wker, 
and resides in Hamilton county; William, 
who married Emma Brooks, resides in 
Hamilton county ; John, deceased ; Char- 
lotte, deceased; Douglass married Mina 
Awker and resides in Hamilton county ; Car- 
oline, the wife of Fletcher Summers, is now 
dead ; Mary J. is the wife of David Mussel- 
man a'nd resides in Liberty township; Deli- 
lah is the widow of William Cenders, re- 
siding at Strawtown, and Aaron, deceased. 
The possessions of Joseph B. Moore at 
the time of his marriage consisted of one 
horse, an interest in some cattle and an in- 
' terest in the growing crop on the home place. 
The first two years he cultivated the farm 
of his father-in-law and then rented another 
place for two years more, when he moved to 
Wells county, Indiana, where he purchased 
eighty acres of land for eighteen hundred 
dollars. As part payment he turned o\-er a 



team of horses, valued at three hundred dol- 
lars, and gave three notes of five hundred 
dollars each, payable in one, two and three 
years. As these notes became due he did not 
have money to meet them, but borrowed it, 
paying ten per cent, interest. It was more 
than twelve }-ears before the last of this in- 
debtedness was liquidated. When he took 
possession of this land it was practically un- 
improved, but it is now well ditched, fenced 
and upwards of seventy acres are cleared. 
In 1884 he built a large barn and has re- 
cently completed a fine residence. He is a 
farmer of the progressive type, raising lots of 
cattle, horses and hogs and plenty of grain, 
hay, straw, fodder and vegetables to feed 
them. He has a number of very fine brood 
mares and always has several promising 
colts on the place. He attends strictly to his 
own business and therefore makes it remu- 
nerative and profitable. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Moore five children 
and many grandchildren have been born, viz : 
Celia is the wife of Edward Harris, and they 
are the parents of seven children, William, 
Charles, Otis, Henry, Evert, Rosie and 
Edna; Cora is the wife of George Sheets 
and they are the parents of three children, 
Elizabeth, Lloyd and Raymond ; Aaron, who 
married Gertie Jones, resides in Liberty 
township, and they are the parents of three 
children, Loretta, Lela and Belle ; Susan and 
Elizabeth Ann were twins, both dying in in- 
fancy. Mrs. Moore is a member of the 
church of the Disciples, being a liberal con- 
tributor to its support and a regular attend- 
ant upon its services. Mr. Moore is an ac- 
tive member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows at Liberty Center, has passed 
the chairs twice and twice been representative 
in grand lodge. In politics he has always 



WELLS COUNTY. INDL\NA. 



537 



been a Democrat and rather active, particu- 
larly during campaigns, having represented 
his township and county in state and con- 
gressional conventions a number of times. 
Because of his courteous manners, genial 
disposition and genuine worth, Mr. Moore 
has won and retains the regard and esteem of 
all who kno\\- him. 



DA\qD T. MATL.^CK. 

Sixty years ago, in the new settlement 
of Lidiana, the man with an education 
was treated with a great deal of consider- 
ation. In those days, in the country, 
about the only use there was for an edu- 
cation was to employ in it the school room 
in teaching. William Matlack, father of 
David T. Matlack, was a native of Ches- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, and a man of 
learning and ability. His father was 
Thomas Matlack. who was born, lived and 
died in the Keystone state. In 1840. Wil- 
liam Matlack came west and, finding him- 
self in Wayne county, Indiana, with noth- 
ing to do, resolved to employ his talents 
in teaching. As an instructor he was ef- 
ficient and popular and not only won his 
way to the hearts of his pupils, but also to 
the heart of a pretty girl over across the 
state line in Preble county. On Novem- 
ber 22, 1844. he was united in marriage 
to Miss Catherine Stamback, a daughter 
of David and Mary J. (Kelly) Stamback, 
natives of Pennsylvania, who were among 
the earliest settlers of Preble county. At 
the instigation of his wife and her relations, 
he took up his abode in Preble county and 
devoted himself to farming. He remain- 



ed there for thirteen years, when, in 1857, 
he moved to Salamonie township, Hunt- 
ington county, Indiana, where he purchas- 
ed a tract of one hundred and forty acres 
of land, partly in Wells county. This tract 
he cleared and improved, making it a valu- 
able, productive farm. He also taught sev- 
eral terms of school in Huntington county. 
He and his wife were the parents of four chil- 
dren, viz : David. ]\Iary. wife of Thomas 
Mounsey ; ]\Iartha E.. wife of ThomasWeek- 
ley, and Mahala, wife of Sylvester Louns- 
bury. The family continued to occupy their 
Huntington county home until the death 
of the parents. The mother died Decem- 
ber 6. 1877, aged sixty-two years, eight 
months and five days and on September 
7, 1891, the father died, aged seventy- 
seven years, five months and five days. 

David T. Matlack was born in Preble 
county. Ohio, August 23, 1845. His fath- 
er, appreciating an education, did not neg- 
lect that of the boy. He attended school 
in Preble county, Ohio, and in Huntington 
county, Indiana, until he was twenty years 
of age. On attaining his majority he rent- 
ed land on the shares, ploughing, plant- 
ing, cultivating and reaping the crops for 
one-third of the gross amount gathered, 
working for about ten years in this man- 
ner up to the time of his marriage. No- 
vember 23, 1876, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary E. Priddy, born March 
4. 1846, in Salamonie township, Hunting- 
ton county. Indiana, the daughter of 
James \\'. and Lydia E. (Irwin) Priddy. 
He was born in Fayette county, Indiana, 
July 3, 182 1, was the son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth Priddy, who were of Irish parent- 
age. The Priddys nuived to Huntington 
county, Indiana, in 1840, and here James 



538 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



W. met Lydia E. Irwin and married her. 
Slie was the daughter of Samuel and Abi 
Irwin, who were natives of Xorth Caro- 
hna, but among the first settlers of Hunt- 
ington county. James W. and Lydia E. 
Priddy were the parents of seven children, 
viz : Mary E. ; Sarah E., wife of William 
Loudenback; Thomas A., a resident of 
Alexandria, Indiana; Asenith A., was the 
wife of Henry Stroup, but has been dead 
some years ; Samuel resides on the home 
place; John L. is a resident of Warren, 
and William, who lives in Huntington. 

The parents continued to reside upon 
the same place where they originally set- 
tled, until their deaths. He died June 2, 
1881 ; she was born January 28, 1821, died 
October 17, 1889. They lived for fifty 
years upon the same farm and during that 
time there were only three deaths in the 
family, two of these being aged people. 

For ten years after his marriage David 
T. Matlack lived with his father and culti- 
vated the farm on the shares, receiving 
one-third of the gross crop gathered. In 
the meantime he accumulated some mon- 
ey, with which he purchased eighty acres 
of land in the woods in Jackson township. 
He cleared forty acres of this and other- 
wise improved the place, until it became a 
desirable piece of property, when he sold 
it. A part of the proceeds he invested in 
fifteen acres in Liberty township, Wells 
county. To this he kept adding, as the 
opportunity offered and means afford- 
ed, until he was the owner of one hundred 
and forty acres, part of which was includ- 
ed in the old homestead. A one-story 
cabin, sixteen by twenty feet, was erected 
on this land and into this Mr. Matlack 
moved his family in 1886. There was lit- 



tle other improvement on the place when 
he took up his residence upon it, but it is 
now cleared, fenced, ditched and other- 
wise improved, having a first class set of 
buildings, comparing favorably with any 
in the township, the house being erected 
in 1890, and in 1900 he built a well-ap- 
pointed, commodious and substantial barn. 
He is engaged in general farming and 
stock raising, giving preference to Poland 
China hags and Galloway cattle. That he 
has been industrious, a good manager and 
eminently successful, the facts above set 
forth amply attest. To him and his wife 
two children have been born, viz: George 
A., born September 18, 1877, taught his 
first term of school when he was fifteen 
years of age and has taught eight terms 
since, being principal of the schools at 
Poneto and at Craig\ille, meantime tak- 
ing a three-years course at the Indiana 
L'niversity. He was admitted to the bar 
on his twenty-fourth birthday and is now 
associated with Henry Eichborn in active 
practice at Blufifton, being deputy prose- 
cutor of the county; Lewis E., born Octo- 
ber 28, 1880, is a graduate of the Liberty 
Center high school and Purdue Univer- 
sit}- and taught two terms. Mrs. Matlack 
is an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, is a liberal contributor 
to its support, and is also a member of the 
lodge of Rebekahs. Mr. Matlack is a Ma- 
son and Odd Fellow, a member of the en- 
campment and belongs to the lodge of 
Rebekahs at Warren. He has passed the 
chairs in the encampment and is now no- 
ble grand of the subordinate lodge. In 
politics he is a Democrat and quite active 
in work for the party, especially during 
exciting political campaigns. He is a man 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'^NA. 



539 



of influence and worth, not only in his own 
township, but his ability is recognized in 
a! parts of tlie county. 



JAMES P. ^lOUXSEY. 

A fortune may be attained in numerous 
wa_\s. Tlie two most common are by a sud- 
den lucky venture and by steady plodding 
and trivial accumulations, requiring years, 
perhaps a life time, to bring about the desired 
result. Where one fortune is secured in the 
first way. hundreds of thousands are ac- 
quired in the other manner. The first is the 
most popular, that is, it is the way most peo- 
ple would prefer to get it, but the second is 
by far the surest way of compassing the de- 
sired result and in every community com- 
fortable fortunes are being acquired by that 
process. One of those who has secured a 
competency in this way is James P. Mounsey, 
of ]\It. Zion. Wells county. Indiana. He was 
born in Liberty township, February 4. 1855, 
and was the son of John and Eliza (Merri- 
man) Mounsey. The parents were married 
in Wells county, Indiana, but the mother was 
a native of Wayne county, Ohio, the father 
being English by birth. He came to Amer- 
ica when he was eighteen years of age, go- 
ing to Pennsylvania and later located in 
Grant county, where he married, his first 
wife being Caroline Stratton. In 1840 he 
located in Wells county, Indiana, settling 
on a tract of land in Liberty township, on 
which he continued to reside up to the time 
of his death. In the latter years of his life 
John JMounsey was in the habit of telling 
numerous anecdotes of his experiences in the 
early settlement of Wells county. The win- 



ter of 1844 will long be remembered by "the 
oldest inhabitant" as the coldest in the mem- 
ory of man in. this latitude. Mr. Mounsey 
stated, and other early settlers vouched for 
its truth, that on the loth of April, that year, 
he crossed the Mississinevva river on the ice, 
in a big sled, on his way to Grant county for 
a load of corn. To show his extreme poverty 
in those early days, he told of salt being 
fourteen dollars a barrel and that he did not 
have money enough to buy salt enough to 
season the butter that he ate. His first year 
in America he earned one hundred dollars, 
pai'd sixty-five dollars of it for a mare which 
he kept long enough to get a colt, when she 
died, leaving him to raise the colt by hand. 
This was one of his hard-luck stories. From 
such a beginning, and that, too, during times 
of great financial depression, he accumulated 
a great deal of property. At one time he 
owned three hundred and sixty acres of fine 
land in Wells county and every foot of it 
was earned by his own labor. Caroline 
Stratton, his first wife, bore him four chil- 
dren, all of whom are living. They are 
Thomas, who resides in Liberty; Miami is 
the wife of Lewis Hoffman, of Mt. Zion; 
Hiram, a resident of Liberty township, and 
J. B.. a resident of the same place. His sec- 
ond wife is yet living at the age of eighty- 
one years, in fairly good health and sound 
mental condition. Five children were born 
to this union, four of whom are living: Eli- 
jah, killed by accident in a well : James P. ; 
George R., of Chester township; William B., 
a resident of Liberty Center; Mary Ann, 
wife of J. B. Osborne, a resident of Liberty 
township. The father of this family was an 
ardent Democrat and zealous church mem- 
ber. 

James P. ]\Iounsey attended the public 



S40 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



schools of his native townsliip until he was 
twenty-one years of age, when he entered 
the employ of his father on the farm at eigh- 
teen dollars per month. In this way he 
worked for two years, when his father pre- 
sented him with a tract of eighty acres of 
land, the same upon which he now resides. 
It was wild, heavily wooded and unim- 
pro\-ed, without fences, ditches or buildings 
of any kind, and for the next few years he 
applied himself to clearing this land, prose- 
cuting the work with energy. 

On April 19, 1878, Mr. Mounsey was 
united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. McNatt, 
a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, daughter 
of Joseph and Mary A. (Hutchison) Mc- 
Natt. She accompanied her parents as a 
child, from Ohio to Wells county. After 
marriage he settled on the farm owned by 
his brother, Elijah, and remained there three 
years. He then bought an old, hewed-log 
house and moved it to his own farm. In 
this he lived until 1895, when he erected his 
present handsome, substantial dwelling of 
nine rooms, all well finished and beautifully 
furnished. Three years previous he built 
a fine, commodious barn, forty by seventy 
feet. He is now the owner of two hundred 
and twenty acres of fine land, one hundred 
and sixty of which comprise the home place. 
On a tract of sixty acres, near Keystone, he 
has two producing oil wells, from which he 
realizes a fair income. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Mounsey seven children 
have been born, of whom five are now living. 
They are Lilia, wife of George Helams, of 
Huntington county, parents of one child; 
Inez ; Lula B., wife of C. A. Payne, of Ches- 
ter township, parents of one child, Ruth; 
Floyd, deceased; Charles C, Claude L. and 
Victor V. are at home, and Mabel A. died 



at the age of two years. The family attend 
the Christian church, of which the parents 
are members and active workers in the cause. 
He has ser\-ed as trustee of the church and 
has been deacon for fifteen years. He is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows at Liberty Center. In politics he is 
a Democrat, but in local affairs is liberal 
enough to vote for the man. He has always 
been an industrious worker, provident and 
thrifty. It is a source of much gratification 
to him that at his time'of life he finds himself 
in possession of enough of this world's goods 
to insure him and all whom he loves against 
every contingency of want and privation. 
He is a good citizen, whose ability and worth 
are well appreciated by his neighbors. 



SILAS POLING. 

This gentleman, who has been a resi- 
dent of Wells county, Indiana, since 1866, 
was born in Jackson township. Perry 
county, Ohio, April 7, 1823. His father, 
Martin Poling, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born October 18, 1781, and was a 
son of William Poling. He grew to man- 
hood and was married in Pennsylvania, 
choosing for his bride Hester Reaver, also 
a native of the Keystone state and born 
April 7, 1786. Martin Poling removed 
from Pennsylvania to Perry county, Ohio, 
while he was in the vigor of his younger 
manhood and for some few years employed 
himself in farming in the woods. After 
having developed a farm of no mean pro- 
portions he sold out his property and re- 
moved to Hocking county, in the same 
state, purchased an eighty-acre tract, also 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



541 



woodland, and wrought out another farm, 
which was his home until his death, which 
occurred January 18, 1855. j\Irs. Hester 
Poling survived until June 14, 1867, when 
she was summoned to join her husband 
in the unknown land, taking her departure 
from the home of her son, Silas. The chil- 
dren born to Martin and Hester (Reaver) 
Poling numbered fourteen, of whom three 
only are now living. These children were 
born in the following order: Jacob, Rich- 
ard. Katherine, Pollie, EHzabeth, Elijah, 
Silas, Isaiah, Jefferson, Anna, three whose 
names cannot be recalled or who died in 
infancy unnamed, and Matilda. Of the 
survivors of this family of fourteen Eliza 
is the widow of John Confare, of \\'ells 
county; Silas, whose name opens this rec- 
ord, and Matilda, wife of Peter Prough, 
who has his home in Missouri. 

Silas Poling grew to manhood in 
Hocking county, Ohio, and lived with his 
father on the home place until he attained 
his majority. At the early age of thirteen, 
however, Silas began working out for the 
neighboring families, but finally turned 
over the proceeds of his labor to his father. 
Upon attaining mature years, he was mar- 
ried, December 10, 1843, to Miss Mar- 
garet Goss, a native of Hocking county, 
Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Hes- 
ter Goss. the former of German and the 
latter of EngHsh descent. ^Irs. ]\Iargaret 
(Goss) Poling, however, was called to rest 
June 26, 1875, having borne her husband 
ten children, namely: Zelda. who was born 
April 18, 1845, is now the widow of John 
Edgar and the mother of six children: 
John, Edgar, Alice. Atkinson, Minnie and 
Ruth; Almeda, born May 13, 1847, is the 
wife of Harvey Irick and has two children, 



Effie and Pearl; Hester, born December 
10, 1849, is the widow of Nathan Lewis 
and the mother of seven children, Ollie, 
Francis, Zetta, Frank, Mollie, Gertie and 
Bertha; Emily, born March 6, 1852, is the 
wife of Thomas Clampit and has two chil- 
dren, William and Eldora; Jefferson, born 
July 7, 1854, married Sarah Stenson, who 
has borne him three children, Effie, Earn- 
est and Charley; Amos, born April 25, 
1856, married Sarah Evans, who has be- 
come the mother of four children, Har- 
riet, Mabel, Emmett and Ora; Mary M. 
died at three years of age; George D. died 
aged four years; Athalinda, born May 7, 
1863, is the widow of Oliver Lewis and has 
one child, Blanche; Anna E., born Febru- 
ary 3, 1866, is married to Jacob Shafer. 

At his marriage Silas Poling located 
on a farm in Hocking county, Ohio, where 
he lived until the fall of 1864, when he 
came to Indiana and rented land in Hunt- 
ington county, on which he lived until 1866 
and then purchased the tract of one hun- 
dred and thirty acres in Wells county, on 
which he still lives. This land was in a 
swamp in the woods and covered with 
water that would reach his neck had he at- 
tempted to wade through its depths. Mr. 
Poling, however, hewed down some tim- 
ber, built a cabin and furnished it with a 
split-log or puncheon floor, with which 
he was contented until he had time to get 
to \\'arren and secure some planking. For 
the reason that he was unable to drain his 
land unassisted, he went three miles to 
Huntington county and worked for Israel 
Black on a farm now owned by John Huff- 
man, and also for several years worked for 
the farmers until his own land could be 
drained. To show the condition of the 



542 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



country at this time, it may be related 
that when Will^ie Barton came to survey 
the first ditch through Mr. PoHng's place 
he was compelled to roll up his trousers as 
high as he possibly could. Mr. Poling now 
has his farm as well drained as any tract 
in the township, having tiled into the pub- 
lic ditch. The farm comprises seventy 
acres, of which Mr. Poling owns fifty and 
Mrs. Poling twenty. 

After the death of his first wife, Silas 
Poling married, June 26, 1875, Lucinda 
Petty, widow of Joseph Petty and daugh- 
ter of John and Elizabeth Stiveson, the 
former of whom was born in Pennsylvania 
and the latter in Hocking county, Ohio, 
and in the latter county were married and 
there passed the remainder of life. John 
Stiveson and wife had a family of twelve 
children, namely ; Catherine, deceased ; 
Emanuel, deceased; Zoel, Lemuel, Susan. 
Sarah, deceased: Elizabeth, Mary, Lu- 
cinda, Johnnie, Eliza, deceased. To a sec- 
ond marriage there were two children, 
namely: Dessie, who had her nativity 
March 23, 1864; Mary A., born Septem- 
ber 18, 1866, and married to William Mad- 
den : Josephine, born July 25, 1868, is mar- 
ried to A. T. Merriman and has three chil- 
dren, Jeston, Dawn and Floyd. Joseph 
Petty was called away' June 20, 1868, or 
about seven years prior to the second mar- 
riage of his widow. To the second mar- 
riage of Silas Poling have been born two 
children, viz: Halleck, September 21, 
1880, and married to Jennie ]\Iounsey. but 
makes his home with his father, and Cur- 
tis Eugene. 

Silas Poling still maintains supervision 
over his farm, on which he has six oil wells 
which produce a handsome income. He 



and wife are members of the Mount Zion 
United Brethren church, of which Mr. 
Poling has been a class leader for forty 
years and also Sunday school superintend- 
ent. He has been a Republican in politics 
ever since the organization of the party 
and cast his first presidential vote for John 
C. Fremont. Mr. Poling signified his 
patriotism, April i, 1864, by volunteering 
in the Union volunteer infantry and serv- 
ing ninety days against the rebel general 
Early. He was then honorably discharg- 
ed, having fought in West \'irginia and 
Maryland with Company H, One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-first Ohio Volunteers. He 
is one of the honored residents of Wells 
county, and his straightforward and useful 
life fully entitles him to all the respect which 
is shown him. 



ALFRED T. MERRIMAN. 

The gentleman whose name introduces 
this review enjoys worthy prestige as a 
successful farmer and stock raiser and as 
a neighbor and citizen is held in the high- 
est esteem by the people of the township 
in which he lives. Mr. Merriman is the 
scion of an old Maryland family who^.e his- 
tory in this country antedates the Revolu- 
tionary period. His great-grandfather, 
William Merriman, was born in Maryland 
about the year 1736 and there married 
Elizabeth Gooin, whose ancestors were 
also among the earliest settlers of that 
colony. From Maryland William Mer- 
riman moved his family to Union county, 
Pennsylvania, thence, about 1850, mi- 
grated to Wayne county, Ohio, where he 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



543 



entered six hundred and forty acres of land 
which he subsequently divided among his 
eight children. He became a prominent 
farmer and leading citizen and departed 
this life a number of years ago in the 
county of Wayne. Among the children of 
William and Elizabeth Merriman was a 
son by the name of Elijah, whose birth oc- 
curred in Maryland in the year 1788. He 
married Mary McCoy, who was born in 
1792 in the same state, and in 1816 moved 
to Wayne county. Ohio, where his father 
had settled the previous year. This couple 
reared sons and daughters, one of the for- 
mer being James Merriman. whose birth 
occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, 
on the 23d of December, 1814. When two 
years old James was taken by his parents 
to Wayne county, Ohio, and it was there 
that he grew to manhood amid the hard 
work and stirring scenes of pioneer times. 
On the 6th of April. 1837, he was joined 
in wedlock to Miss Anna Tracy, daughter 
of George and Leah Tracy, early settlers 
of Wayne county, ]\Irs. Merriman having 
been born there on the 8th day of Febru- 
ary, 1818. One year prior to his marriage 
James Merriman entered eighty acres of 
land in Huntington county. Indiana, but 
for some reason he never moved to this 
place, returning to his home in Ohio im- 
mediately after making the purchase. Li 
October, 1839, he moved his family, con- 
sisting of a wife and one child, to Wells 
county, entering one hundred and sixty 
acres in section 20, in what is now Liberty 
township, there being no township organ- 
ization at that date. The country at the 
time was a dense wilderness, uncheered by 
the sHghtest presence of civilization, and 
for several years following the pioneer 



family experienced their full share of the 
vicissitudes and hardships incident to life 
in the backwoods. Mr. Merriman built a 
log cabin which answered the purposes for 
which intended until a more comfortable 
dwelling took its place and in due time clear- 
ed a fine farm, which became one of the 
best cultivated and most valuable places 
in the township of Liberty. He continued 
to reside on this farm until about 1889, 
when he became an inmate of the house- 
hold of his son, the subject of this sketch, 
where his death occurred on the 27th of 
February, 1896. Mrs. Merriman preceded 
her husband to the grave, departing this 
life May 15. 1889. They were the par- 
ents of eleven children, namely: Saman- 
tha, widow of Ruel Wright; Mahala, de- 
ceased wife of George McElhaney ; Bruce, 
a resident of Smith county. Kansas ; John, 
a farmer of Liberty township. Wells 
county ; Tracy, who also lives in the town- 
ship of Liberty: Anna, widow of Asberry 
Luce: Dallas, who lives in Huntington 
county ; Mary L., deceased, was the wife of 
William Heckman ; Joseph H., a farmer 
of Wells county; George O., of Pulaski 
county, and Alfred T. James Merriman 
was for many years prominent in the pub- 
lic affairs of Wells county and in his im- 
mediate neighborhood was to a large ex- 
tent a leader among his follow citizens. 
He served three years as magistrate, was 
always an active worker in the Democratic 
party and contributed much to its success 
in an early day. Mrs. Merriman was a 
devout Christian, having been a member 
of the Discij^les church from early woman- 
hood. 

Alfred T. Merriman was born on the 
old homestead in Liberty township, De- 



544 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



cember 20, 1865. From the age of six to 
his seventeenth year he attended winter 
seasons the district schools near which he 
Hved, spending the other months assisting 
his father with the labors of the farm. In 
his eighteenth year he entered a normal 
school at Bluffton and after attending one 
term was sufficiently advanced in his stud- 
ies to pass successfully the required ex- 
amination for a teacher's license. During 
the next five years he divided his time be- 
tween teaching and attending school and 
from the expiration of that period until 
1894 devoted the greater part of his atten- 
tion to teaching. With the exception of 
one term. 'Sir. Merriman"s educational 
work was confined to Liberty township 
and his retention year after year in the 
same district speaks louder than words in 
praise of his efficiency and success as an 
instructor. While engaged in teaching 
he spent his vacations at home helping 
with the farm work until 1894, when he 
abandoned the educational field for the 
purpose of engaging in agricultural pur- 
suits upon his own responsibility. In 1892 
Mr. ]\Ierriman purchased the farm of 
eighty acres on which he now lives, going 
in debt to the amount of two thousand 
dollars, the greater part of which he has 
since paid, besides buying forty-eight acres 
of the home place, making the sum total 
of his real estate at this time one hundred 
and twenty-eight acres, all but sixteen 
being in cultivation. He has made many 
improvements on his farm and is justly 
considered one of the most enterprising 
agriculturists of the county, as well as one 
of its representative men. 

Mr. Merriman was married December 
31, 1888, to Miss Josephine Petty, who 



was born in Hocking county, Ohio, on the 
25th of July, 1868, the daughter of Joseph 
and Lucinda Petty, and their home has 
been brightened by the advent of three 
children: Justin, born June 6, 1891, Don 
G., born September 3, 1893, ^"d Floyd V., 
who first saw the light of day on the i8th 
of December, 1896. In his political views 
Mr. Merriman is a Democrat, but in local 
afifairs he pays little heed to party claims, 
voting for the man best qualified for office. 
In matters religious he subscribes to the 
belief of the Methodist Protestant church 
and for a number of years has been one of 
the pillars of the congregation worshiping 
at Liberty Center. In 1899 he was elected 
secretary of the quarterly conference, 
which position he still holds, and since the 
year 1894 he has been the efficient super- 
intendent of the Liberty Center Sunday 
school. He is also superintendent of the Lib- 
erty township Sunday school convention and 
as such has been instrumental in promot- 
ing the work in this part of the county. 
Like her husband, Mrs. Merriman is a 
Sunday school worker. Socially both are 
popular with a large circle of friends and 
their wholesome moral influence has add- 
ed much to the high standing of the com- 
munity in which they reside. It is to such 
people that the body politic is indebted 
for its moral tone and stabihty and the 
hope of every good citizen is that men and 
women of this type may ever increase in 
number. 



ROBERT C. IRWIN. 

We are often told that the child is 
father to the man. At first thought the as- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



545 



sertion seems an absurdity, Init when we 
consider how the inclination of the youth 
foreshadows the disposition and trend of 
mind which the man afterwards displays, 
we are reconciled more to the truth of the 
statement. From early childhood Robert 
C. Irwin, of Liberty township, had a pas- 
sion for trees and for grafting and budding 
them. He had watched the operation of 
grafting until he felt perfectly familiar 
with every detail and at the first oppor- 
tunity that offered concluded to try his 
hand. His mother had a nice patch of 
gooseberry bushes and these he proposed 
to convert into fine fruit trees by the trim- 
ming process. When the operations of 
the young horticulturist were discovered 
the wrath of his parent was intense. The 
use of the maternal slipper was called into 
requisition and he was made to feel that 
the path of the true scientist in horticul- 
ture was, as in other matters, not uncom- 
monly strewn with thorns. His gooseberry 
bushes have not yet become bearing fruit 
trees, but the early inclinations of the child 
lia\-e made the man one of the most success- 
ful fruit raisers in Wells county. 

Robert C. Irwin was born May i8, 
1855, in Salamonie township, Hunting- 
ton county, Indiana, his parents being 
Cornelius and Elizabeth (Swaim) Irwin. 
The father was a native of North Caro- 
lina, born May 21, 1827. At the age of 
eighteen he accompanied his uncle, Rob- 
ert Irwin, on foot, from North Carolina 
to Huntington county. Sargeant Clark, 
a relative, had preceded them and it was 
through his representations that the ardu- 
ous trip was made. For years afterward 
Cornelius worked by the month for farm- 
ers. He was married, when about twenty- 



four years of age, to Elizabeth Swaim, also 
a native of North Carolina, and a daughter 
of Simeon and Nancy Swaim, who were 
natives of North Carolina, as they were 
also early settlers of Indiana. Soon after 
his marriage Cornelius Irwin bought forty 
acres of Salamonie township land, all in 
the woods, going in debt for the greater 
part of the purchase price. He sold it in 
a short time at a profit and purchased 
sixty-five acres in the same township, the 
same constituting a part of the farm upon 
which he now resides, at the age of 
seventy-five years, one of his daughters, 
Nancy, being his housekeeper. His wife 
died in May, 1897. To CorneHus and 
Elizabeth Irwin seven children were born, 
viz: Eunice, wife of William H. Helm; 
Nancy; Samuel, killed by a falling tree; 
Robert C. ; Ruth, who married David F. 
Payne, and is now deceased ; William, a 
resident of Huntington county, Indiana, 
and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. 

A good common school education was 
accorded Robert C. Irwin as he grew to 
manhood in his native township. At the 
age of eighteen his labor on the farm was 
considered more valuable than anything 
further he might learn at school and he 
was put to work, at which he remained 
for his father until he was twenty-five 
years old. Occasionally he was permitted 
to rent a field and plant, cultivate and 
gather a crop of corn. He also occasion- 
ally worked by the day for neighboring 
farmers, and when he was twenty-four 
years old he rented a field from his father 
and planted it in corn, but it required two- 
thirds of the crop of corn to pay the rent. 

April 7, 188 1, Mr. Irwin was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Kyle, a native of 



546 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Philadelphia. Ijorn July 5. 1857, a daugh- 
ter of Samuel and Phoebe (Black) Kyle. 
Samuel Kyle died at the age of twenty- 
four, when his little daughter was but two 
years old, and five years later the child was 
left an orphan, indeed, by the death of her 
mother. She was taken by her aunt, Mrs. 
Belle Irwin, and reared in that family un- 
til she was fifteen, when she began work- 
ing out by the week. She remained four 
years in one place, at the home of Dr. 
Hupp in Warren, and as an evidence of 
the \irtue of thrift and economy which 
she possesses in a marked degree, it is 
cited that at the time of her marriage she 
had saved out of her wages the sum of 
fifty dollars, notwithstanding much of the 
time her wages were only seventy-five cents 
a week. At the time of their marriage the 
subject and his wife possessed but one 
horse, but they soon procured another one 
and were not long in establishing them- 
selves comfortably at housekeeping, rent- 
ing for three years. In 1884 they pur- 
chased forty acres from John J. Preble, 
incurring an indebtedness of fifteen hun- 
dred dollars to be paid in four annual pay- 
ments, each being paid before it was due. 
On their little farm they had thirty acres 
cleared, a house that was neither sightly 
nor commodious and a barn that was 
built of poles. When he started on this 
place Mr. Irwin gratified to the fullest ex- 
tent his taste for the cultivation of fruit. 
His knowledge of grafting and budding- 
he exercised without any fear of interfer- 
ence on the part of an angry parent. The re- 
sult is that he has today a most superb 
little fruit farm of sixty acres, the fruit 
from which yields him a very satisfactory 
income. He has about five acres set to 



fruit, with about seven hundred bearing- 
trees of every variety, pears and plums 
being the principal line, the small fruits 
aflording- a full share of the orchard's in- 
come. In 1897 Mr. Irwin erected an at- 
tracti\e new home, well finished and sub- 
stantially furnished, and three years later 
he added a large, substantial barn. The 
owners are in easy, comfortable circum- 
stances and enjoy the sweets of prosperity 
in the knowledge of having accomplished 
it all by their own labor, good manage- 
ment and thrift. For four years he has 
bred the Ohio Improved Chester White 
hogs, and keeps a general line of cattle 
and sheep, the returns from his stock ad- 
ding materially to his income. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Irwin but one child 
h.as been born, \iz : Seth H.. born Janu- 
ary 6, 1882, a student in the Liberty Cen- 
ter high school. 

In religion Mr. and Mrs. Irwin are 
members of the Salem Methodist Episco- 
pal church. He has served a number of 
times as superintendent of the Sabbath 
school and was a class leader for a length 
of time. He is a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows lodge at 
\\'arren, and of the encampment at Bluff- 
ton, at which place he is a member of the 
Maccabees. He and his wife also belong 
to the lodge of Rebekahs at Bluffton. In 
politics he is a Republican and has always 
been an active worker in the ranks of that 
party. He ne\-er essaj'ed to run for oflice 
but once, that being for assessor, and no 
candidate ever accepted defeat with better 
grace. He is a man of -wide acquaintance 
and is universally admired and respected 
because of his many excellent personal 
qualities and characteristics. 



WELLS COUNTY. INDIANA. 



547 



\\'ILLIA^I C. ARNOLD. 

\\'illiam C. Arnold was Iwrn February 
15, 1853, in ^'era Cruz, Wells county, Indi- 
ana, and is a son of August and Augusta 
(Jan) Arnold, who were natives of Saxony, 
Germany, where they were married and 
whence they came to America in 1846. The 
father, who was a tailor, followed his trade 
for a short time in Ohio, as he did also for 
five years at \'era Cruz, Indiana. In 1853 
he traded for forty acres of woodland in 
Adams county, paying a small difference in 
cash, and there he passed the remainder of 
his life, dying in April, 1865, leaving a 
widow (who died in 1899) with seven chil- 
dren, viz : Frank, a farmer in Adams coun- 
ty; Alalinda. widow of Christopher Ash- 
baucher ; Charles, a resident of Wells county ; 
^^'illiam C; Sarah, wife of Robert Case, of 
Adams county; Louis, a resident also of 
Wells county, and Ella, who was married 
to George F. Markle}', but is now deceased. 

\\'. C. Arnold attended the public schools 
until he was seventeen years of age, but, his 
oldest brother being in the army, the care of 
the family fell chiefly on him and his brother 
Charles. At the age mentioned he began to 
work in the saw-mill of Hull & Blackstone, 
in Harrison township, and for four years 
performed his duty faithfully and to the sat- 
isfaction of his employers. He was next em- 
l)ioyed by Charles Cole in a saw-mill in Lib- 
erty township, holding the position nine- 
teen years. He purchased property in Lib- 
erty Center in 188 1 and built for himself a 
neat dwelling. In 1886 he purchased thirty 
acres, besides which he owns a valuable tract 
adjoining the village. February 15. 1901. 
Mr. Arnold bought the half interest of A. B. 
Tinkle in the hardware store in Libertv Cen- 



ter, since v.hen he has been associated with 
James W. Jackson in a lucrative trade in a 
general stock of assorted hardware. 

October 13, 1876, Mr. Arnold was mar- 
ried to Miss Isabella Higman, a native of 
Wells county, born June 23. 1858, a daugh- 
ter of Clem and Martha Higman, natives of 
Virginia but both now deceased, the mother 
having passed the closing years of life at the 
home of Mr. Arnold. Mv. and ]\Irs. Arnold 
have two children : Alartha, who is married 
to George Russell, a farmer of Wells county, 
and has two children, Ceroid and Ruth 
Irene; and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are 
members of the Baptist church, of which he 
is trustee and to the support of which the}' 
freeh- contribute. Fie is also a member of the 
Odd Fellows lodge at Liberty Center, of 
which he has served as treasurer during his 
entire membership, and he is likewise a mem- 
ber of the encampment at Bluffton. He is 
a life-long Democrat. For five years he 
served as assessor of Liberty township, and 
was then elected trustee, a position he also 
held for five years. During his incumbency 
of this office the school-houses at Liberty 
Center and Poneto were erected, and these 
schools, being graded, are considered among 
the best in the county. In every position he 
has performed his duty conscientiously and 
with credit to himself as well as to the satis- 
faction of all. 



SILAS G. LEAVENGOOD. 

One of the prominent young farmers 
of Union township, ^^'ells county. Indi- 
ana, is Silas G. Lea\'engood. a native of 
this township, born December 21. 1871, 



548 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



and a son of Peter C. and Martha A. 
(Zimmerlee) Leavengood. Jacob Leaven- 
good, great-grandfather of Silas G., was 
a native of Germany and prior to the war 
of 1812 between the United States and 
Great Britain brought his wife to America 
and settled in Union township, Pennsyl- 
vania. They were in somewhat indigent 
circumstances, and, in accordance with the 
custom of the time, Jacob and his broth- 
ers and sisters were "apprenticed" or 
bound out to work until they had earned 
sufficient money to pay for their passage 
across the ocean. Jacob Leavengood and 
his brother Daniel enlisted in the Ameri- 
can army and in one of the sanguinary 
conflicts with the Indian auxiliaries of the 
British forces Daniel lost his life. Jacob 
Leavengood and his wife then fled across 
the Susquehanna river and sought a 
more densely populated district, in which 
they passed the remainder of their lives. 
Christian Leavengood, grandfather of 
Silas G., was apprenticed to the black- 
smith's trade and before his marriage had 
become master of his own shop. He 
moved from Pennsylvania to Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, in 1830, having purchased a 
tract of land in the woods. He readily ac- 
commodated himself to the surroundings, 
learning to sleep in deserted Indian wig- 
wams and to endure many other hard- 
ships and inconveniences, but lived to see 
the heavy timber cleared away and a fine 
farm substituted, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his life. Peter C. Leaven- 
good was reared in Tuscarawas county, 
Ohio, but was united in marriage in Hunt- 
ington county, Indiana, March 28, 1868. 
He had purchased his farm in Union 
township in 1849, ^""^ o" '^'''•^ ^''^ passed 



away March 20, 1889. The union of Peter 
C. and Martha A. (Zimmerlee) Leaven- 
good was graced with five children, name- 
ly : j\Ialinda E. died in 1878, aged nine 
years ; Delphina ; Silas G. ; Salome A. , now 
the wife of Frederick Piatt, of Union 
township, and Celesta O. 

Silas G. Leavengood was reared to ag- 
ricultural pursuits on his father's farm, 
but was given every opportunity to attend 
school in the winter seasons, when farm 
duties did not require all his attention. 
He ably and dutifully assisted his father 
until the time came about for his own mar- 
riage, when he chose for his bride Miss 
Lydia Roudebush, a native of Union town- 
ship, to whom he was married October i, 
1893. 

Peter C. Leavengood was one of the 
most substantial citizens of Union town- 
ship and was greatly honored by all who 
knew him. Of the Zimmerlee family, 
Jacob, the father of Mrs. Peter C. Leaven- 
good, was born in Virginia, yet little is 
known touching his ancestry, save the fact 
that his parents died when he was a boy, 
and he then made his home with a brother- 
in-law, Jacob Miller, until his own mar- 
riage. At the age of fourteen he came 
to Wells county with this brother-in-law 
and was here employed by the latter to 
drive a team between Blufifton and Cin- 
cinnati, and in this occupation he was en- 
gaged at the time of his marriage, Decem- 
ber 25, 1845, '^\"ith Miss Clara Brown, of 
\Mlkes county. North Carolina. This 
lady is of German descent and a daughter 
of Elisha and Elizabeth (Redding) Brown. 
At the time of this marriage Mr. Zim- 
merlee had but about five dollars, but four 
years later he purchased on credit forty 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



549 



acres 9f land in Union township, and in 
order to pay for this land he worked out 
by the month, while his wife stayed at 
home and kept herself busy at weaving, 
thus adding to their mutual income. Af- 
ter the land had been paid for, Mr. Zim- 
merlee cleared, sold it and purchased the 
farm now owned by Thomas Powell, on 
which he lived until his death. His 
widow survived him about eighteen years, 
dying at seventy-six years of age. Mr. 
Leavengood still resides on the old farm, 
a part of which constitutes the farm of 
Silas G. 



DANIEL FISHER. 

Probably there cannot be found in L^n- 
ion township a more \-enerable man and ven- 
erated and respected citizen than Daniel 
Fisher, a son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Crites) Fisher, of Pennsylvania birth and 
German extraction. Daniel Fisher, how- 
ever, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, 
and the date of his nativity was June 14, 
1826. His paternal grandfather was the 
founder of the family in America, having 
landed in New York when a young man. 
Henry Fisher married a Miss Crites in Tus- 
carawas county. The lady was also of Ger- 
man parentage and bore her husband ten 
children, viz : John, Daniel, Joseph, George, 
Henry, Solomon, Anna, Elizabeth, Lydia 
and one that died in infancy. Of the three 
members of this family who still survive, 
Daniel is the only one living in Wells coun- 
ty, Indiana. Although his father was a poor 
man when he settled in Ohio, he was a man 
of indomitable will and untiring industry, 
and at his death, which took place in the 



Buckeye state, he was worth at least twenty 
thousand dollars. 

Daniel Fisher was reared to farm life 
and was educated in the common schools; 
being an apt scholar and possessing a reten- 
tive memory, he succeeded in securing a 
good education and at the age of twenty- 
one years, on quitting school, he began learn- 
ing the cooper's trade, at which he worked 
one year, when, having saved sufficient 
funds, he came ti> Wells county and entered 
eighty acres of wooded land on the site now 
occupied by Jesse Crites. He returned to 
Ohio and remained at his trade two years 
longer. 

Mr. Fisher was united in marriage in 
1850, with Miss Sophia A. Myers and the 
young couple lived on the farm alluded to 
for seven years, when Mrs. Fisher was 
called to rest July 17, 1857, leaving to mourn 
her loss, beside her husband, three children, 
named Henry, Elizabeth and Margaret A. 
At the death of this, his first helpmate, Mr. 
Fisher returned to the home of his father in 
Ohio and remained on the old homestead, 
until his second marriage, which took place 
March 25, 1859, to Miss Sarah J. Shull. In 
April, 1859, he returned with his wife to 
Wells county, Indiana, and resumed the oc- 
cupancy of his original farm, on which he 
resided until 1862, when he sold it and 
bought one hundred and twenty acres of 
his present farm, to which he has since 
added forty acres, having now a compact 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres of as 
good land as can be found in Wells county. 

To the second marriage of Mr. Fisher 
have been born nine children, eight of whom 
are living: Emmett, ^Matilda, Clara C, 
George A., Rachel, Elmer, Ellsworth, Daniel 
B. and Delia M. Mr. Fisher and all the 



550 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



members of his family, save one, belong to 
the church of God, in which he has officiated 
as deacon and elder for several years. Mrs. 
Fisher died August 25, 1890, after being an 
invalid, confined to her bed for tv^'enty-four 
years, and an almost constant sufferer from 
rheumatism. 

In politics Mr. Fisher is a stalwart Re- 
publican and has been a zealous supporter of 
the party ever since its foundation, having 
probably cast more presidential votes than 
any other man in Wells county, at least in 
Union township, including candidates nom- 
inated by both Whigs and Republicans. Mr. 
Fisher thinks for himself and is possessed of 
strong convictions, but is not obtrusive and is 
a kindly neighbor, and has lived to witness 
Union township developed from a genuine 
wilderness into a blooming garden. His 
only neighbor, in fact, when he first settled 
here, was Jesse Crites, each owning a horse 
and wagon, and when necessary to go to mill, 
the two would hitch the animals together, 
thus making a double team, and while one of 
them carried an ax with which to hew a road 
through the woods, the other would drive 
the horses. 



LAWSON POPEJOY. 

The Popejoy family of Wells county, 
Indiana, and pioneers of Union township, 
came from Ohio in the winter of 1840, 
about fifteen years prior to the adoption 
of the state's present constitution. Chris- 
tian Popejoy, the father of Lawson Pope- 
joy, was a native of Virginia, whence he 
removed to Kentucky and later to Ohio, 
where he married Nancy Bowers, a na- 
tive of the last named state, and who was 



his first wife. Their children who reached 
maturity were named, in order of birth, as 
follows: Eliza A., Susan, Margaret, Law- 
son, Joseph, Edward C, and two who died 
young. 

Lawson Popejoy was born in Fayette 
county, Ohio, March 26, 1838, and was 
about two and a half years of age when 
his parents settled in the northeast quar- 
ter of section 24, Harrison township. 
Wells county, Indiana, which quarter sec- 
tion the father entered from the govern- 
ment. The land was covered with a dense 
forest of timber and since becoming the 
property of the Popejoy family has had 
but three owners. The father of Lawson 
Popejoy cleared up their tract from its 
primeval condition, working night and day 
to accomplish his purpose, and there made 
his home until his death. In religion he 
was a licensed local preacher in the 
Methodist Episcopal church, as well as 
class leader for many years, and in pohtics 
was a stanch Democrat. 

Lawson Popejoy, until twenty-two 
years of age, lived on his father's farm, 
in the meanwhile attending a subscription 
school, later a public school and still later 
became a teacher in the schools of his 
township. He began his business career 
by working out by the job at splitting rails, 
ditching, clearing off timber and at such 
other work as aided the neighbors in de- 
veloping the country and in making it 
worthy of being the abode of civilized 
man, such as it is today, of which class 
of work he has done his full share. 
Through his labor he accumulated six 
hundred dollars, and then married Miss 
Orpha Davis, daughter of Elias Davis and 
a native of Wells county. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



551 



At his marriage Mr. Popejoy rented 
the homestead in partnership with his 
brother, Edward C, but a few years later 
purchased the property, and still later sold 
it and bought his present farm of ninety- 
six acres. To the marriage of Lawson 
and Orpha (Davis) Popejoy have been 
born the following named children, who 
still live to adorn the home of the parents : 
Louisa. Alice, Hattie, Sherman and Law- 
son. 

In politics Mr. Popejoy is a Democrat 
and has served as assessor of Harrison 
township six years and as township treas- 
urer four years, leaving the treasury in 
first-class condition in 1876, and in 1878 
was nominated for county treasurer, to 
which he was elected and in 1880 re-elect- 
ed, thus serving a continuous period of 
four years. In 1883 Mr. Popejoy erected 
his present brick residence, of which he 
at once took possession and which he has 
since occupied. He and wife are widely 
known throughout Wells county and are 
highly respected for their amiable personal 
traits of character and their upright lives. 
They are good neighbors, charitable of 
thought and action, and Mr. Popejoy is 
especially public spirited and ready at all 
times to aid with his funds and his influ- 
ence all those imp'rovements which tend to 
elevate their condition and advance the 
happiness of his fellow citizens. 



ANDREW J. HAFLICH. 

Agriculture, the source of all wealth, 
finds in Wells county, Indiana, a represent- 
ative in the truest sense of the word in the 
person of Andrew J. Haflich, a resident of 



L^nion township and one of the present 
county commissioners. He was born in 
Crawford county, Ohio, October 31, 1843, 
and came to Wells county, Indiana, with his 
parents, Isaac and Catherine (Fletcher) 
Haflich, when he was but eight years of age. 
The family settled in Rock Creek township 
on a farm, in the cultivation of which young 
Andrew J. was early called upon to assist, 
and was thus, to a great extent, deprived of 
opportunities to secure an education in youth. 
However, he secured a robust and healthy 
physical constitution through his labors on 
the homestead, and at the time secured a 
thorough knowledge of the nolsle and honor- 
able calling of agriculture. He was suffi- 
ciently well educated, however, to become a 
teacher in a rural school, although he did not 
follow that vocation as a profession. He 
continued his labors on the home farm until 
he had attained his majority, when he started 
in business on his own account. April i, 
1865, he married Miss Amanda Beil, who 
came with her father, Jacob Beil, from Ohio 
when the daughter was cjuite young, and set- 
tled in Rock Creek township. Wells county, 
where she was educated and where she after- 
wards taught school for several terms. To 
them have been born ten children, of whom 
nine still survive and are named Ida, Sylvia, 
Reuben, Jacob, Mary, Viola, Bessie, Eva and 
Hattie. 

At marriage, Andrew J. Haflich rented 
the Haflich homestead, which he cultivated 
and lived upon until April, 1872, when he 
purchased seventy acres of the farm he now 
occupies, but which was then without im- 
provements of any kind. This he has since 
cleared, ditched and improved in all respects, 
tlius developing one of the finest homesteads 
in L^nion township. 

i\Ir. and ]\Irs. Haflich are faithful work- 



552 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ers ill the Methodist Episcopal church at 
L'niondale, of wliich Mr. Haflich is a trustee 
and Mrs. Haflich a steward. Mr. Haflich 
in past time served as superintendent of the 
Sunday school, and is now assistant superin- 
tendent, while Mrs. Haflich is a teacher. In 
politics Mr. Haflich has been a life-long 
Democrat and at the present hour is one of 
the leading men of his party in Wells county. 
His experience as a politician is extended 
and varied, and his managing , ability has 
been tested in many a hard-fought' campaign. 
In primaries and in conventions his voice is 
always listened to with profound respect and 
his advice eagerly sought and followed. Al- 
though he has never felt any special desire 
for ofiice holding, he has nevertheless felt it 
to be his duty as a matter of patriotism to 
respond to the party call to serve in any 
capacity, and hence it is that he is now fill- 
ing his second term as county commissioner 
from the third district of Wells county. His 
duties have been performed during over six 
years as a member of the board of commis- 
sioners in such a manner as not only to re- 
dound to his personal credit, but to be a sub- 
ject of hearty congratulation by the Demo- 
cratic party. 

As a farmer Mr. Haflich has treated his 
vocation from an intellectual as well as a 
practical standpoint. From his earliest 
days he has recognized the all-important 
bearing agriculture has upon the fate of any 
nation, and is well aware of the fact that an 
agricultural people is the happiest and, as a 
whole, the wealthiest on the face of the 
earth. As a citizen Mr. Haflich is useful 
and public spirited, is widely known and re- 
spected, and his family share with him the 
unfeigned esteem of the entire population of 
Union township. 



WILLIAM ELICK. 

The Elick family of L^nion township 
are of German descent and are among the 
most respected citizens of the township, 
in which they settled when William Elick 
was an infant. He was born in Van Wert 
county, Ohio, October 28, 1856, a son 
of Frederick and Mary (Wetzel) Elick, 
the former of whom, when a small boy, 
was brought from Germany to America 
by his parents, who ultimately settled in 
Ohio, where Frederick was reared to man- 
hood and was married. In 1856 Frederick 
Elick brought his bride and infant son to 
Rock Creek township. Wells county, and 
there the father followed the calling of 
farmer and blacksmith until his death, 
which occurred when William was but a 
boy. while that of his mother occurred 
some fourteen years ago. They were the 
parents of sixteen children, of whom four- 
teen are still li\"ing. 

William Elick was reared on his 
father's farm and was thoroughly trained 
in all the details of agricultural pursuits. 
He received a common school education 
and when twenty-one years old began 
working out by the month. He was in- 
dustrious and economical and was united 
in marriage July 25, 1880, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Rarar, who was born in Rock Creek 
township, of Pennsylvania parentage. This 
union has been crowned by the birth of 
three children, of whom two have been 
called away, the only survivor being Jen- 
nie Elsie, who was born in 1890. 

At his marriage Mr. Elick rented a 
farm for a short time and then engaged 
in the manufacture of tile, near Markle, 
a business he followed about eight years, 



WELLS- COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



553 



wlien he resumed farming, in which he 
has met with the most flattering success. 

Fraternally ]\Ir. Elick is a charter 
member of the Knights of Pythias lodge 
at Markle, of which he is a past chancellor 
and which he has represented in the grand 
lodge of the order. In politics he is one 
of the substantial Democrats of Union 
township and under the auspices of his 
party has served his fellow citizens as 
justice of the peace for six years. Very 
few of his decisions have ever been ap- 
pealed from and when he pronounces judg- 
ment it is as a rule considered to be final. 
Although an unassuming and modest gen- 
tleman, who never thrusts himself for- 
v>ard or in any respect makes himself of- 
ficious in the affairs of others, he has won 
the respect of all his neighbors, who have 
the most implicit confidence in his judg- 
ment and integrity. 

From what has been already written 
concerning William Elick, the reader will 
readily infer that he is what is usually 
termed "a self-made man," and that he is 
the "architect of his own fortune." He 
was but in moderate circumstances at the 
time of his marriage, but he now stands 
among the well-to-do and influential resi- 
dents of Union township, all he has being 
the result of his own honest labor and 
skillful management. He cannot be too 
highly complimented for the excellent 
manner in which he has played his part in 
life's drama nor congratulated too strong- 
ly upon the success which has attended 
him. Still upon the entrance of the prime 
of life, Mr. Elick gives promise of many 
years of usefulness among his friends and 
neighbors and with them of developing 
the resources and industries of Union 



township and Wells county, being possess- 
ed of the courage and intelligence that 
fullv fit him for this task. 



ALBERT ORMSBY. 

The Ormsby family of L'nion township. 
Wells county, Indiana, were originally from 
Ireland. George Ormsby, the grandfather of 
the subject, having come from the Emerald 
Isle to America when about twenty-one years 
of age, settling in Mahoning county, Ohio. 
There he married a Scotch lady and then 
made a visit to Ireland, remained there about 
three years, and then returned to his home in 
Ohio, where he died at the age of ninety- 
seven and a half years. 

Albert Ormsby was born in ]\Iahoning 
county, Ohio. January 4, 1832. a son of 
Joseph and Martha (Wolfcale) Ormsby. 
Joseph Ormsby was reared a farmer and, 
although he had but a common school edu- 
cation, was an eloquent orator and an earn- 
est advocate of the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party. Joseph and Martha Ormsby 
were both born in Mahoning county, Ohio, 
lived there all their days and died there at the 
respective ages of sixty-seven and sixty-three 
years. To Joseph and Martha Ormsby there 
were born ten children, of \\hom seven still 
survive, although Albert is the only repre- 
sentati\'e of the family li\-ing in Wells coun- 
ty, Indiana. 

Albert Ormsby worked on his father's 
farm until twenty-one years old. attending 
the district school in the meanwhile. After 
reaching manhood's estate he began work- 
ing out by the month, but continued to live 
on the home farm until he was twentv-five. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



August 27, 1856, Mr. Ormsby was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary Goldner, daugh- 
ter of a highly respected couple of Mahoning 
county, Ohio, and quite well educated in the 
German and English languages. In April, 
1857, Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby came to Indi- 
ana and made their first stopping place at 
Ossian, Wells county. Shortly afterward 
they moved into a cabin one mile north of 
the present site of LTniondale, where Mr. 
Ormsby purchased an eighty-acre tract of 
land, to which he has since added forty acres. 
The hard labor of clearing off the super- 
abundance of timber that incumbered these 
acres was almost all performed by Mr. Orms- 
by himself, but he has developed one of the 
finest farms of its dimensions in the town- 
ship of Union and is well satisfied with the 
result of his efforts. 

]\Ir. and ]\Irs. Ormsby have had born to 
them two children, viz : Lois A., who is the 
wife of Cyrus Wert, of Union township, and 
Llewellyn Hays Ormsby, who operates the 
homestead. The family attend the Luth- 
eran church at Uniondale, of which the par- 
ents are both members, Mrs. Ormsby hav- 
ing been a communicant since girlhood and 
of which Mv. Ormsby has been a deacon for 
twenty-four j-ears, and one of the first elders. 
The parents take a deep interest in this 
church and its progress and contribute most 
freely to its financial support. In his politi- 
cal affiliations Mr. Ormsby is a Democrat, 
and although ever active in his work for his 
party and punctual in casting his vote for its 
candidates, he is never officious, nor has he 
ever sought office. He has always been an 
industrious citizen and, as will have been 
seen by the foregoing paragraphs, has 
earned by his own labor nearly all he is 
now worth. He and his wife are greatly re- 



spected l.iy their neighbors for their many 
good ([ualities and personal merits and their 
social standing is with the l^est people of 
L'nion and surrounding townships. 



JONATHAN SEAMAN. 

This is an age in which the farmer 
stands pre-eminently above any other 
class as a producer of wealth. He not 
only takes advantage of time, but also 
of the winds, the warm air, the bright and 
wholesome sunshine and the refreshing 
rains, and applying his own hands and 
skill to nature's gifts, creates grain, hay, 
live stock, etc., all of which are necessi- 
ties to the world's inhabitants. The com- 
mercial world has come to recognize him 
as an important factor and has surround- 
ed him with conveniences not thought of 
one hundred years ago. The inventor has 
put his shoulder to the wheel and given 
him the self-binder, the riding plow, the 
steam thresher and many other labor-sav- 
ing devices and the farmer has not been 
slow to see the advantage of such im- 
pro\"ements, of which he has availed him- 
self. 

Jonathan Seaman, a son of Joseph and 
Mariah (Bailey) Seaman, was born in 
Trumbull county, Ohio, February 13, 
1843. His father was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, of German parentage, and at an 
early age was left an orphan. He was 
taken in charge by an uncle, with whom 
he lived until a young man of nineteen 
years, when he came to Trumbull county, 
Ohio. He was without means when he 
first came west and, being entirely de- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



pendent upon his own resources, he at 
once set to work to learn the carpenter's 
trade, at which he worked until his mar- 
riage to Miss Mariah Bailey, a native of 
Ohio. Immediately after his marriage he 
bought forty acres of land in Trumbull 
county, for which he paid one thousand 
dollars, the full amount of his savings. 
He soon sold this farm and moved to 
Union township, Wells county, Indiana, 
in 1856, and began looking about for a 
farm. He decided on the farm now owned 
by H. H. Lassiter, but which was not then 
in its present well groomed condition, for 
farms in those days were little less than 
forests. The subject's father erected the 
buildings which are the present home of 
the Lassiter family, but since their first 
erection, they have been remodeled and 
made more comfortable. Here he lived 
until the death of his wife, but after a 
short time he again married and removed 
with his second wife to Zanesville, Wells 
county, Indiana. He was one of the lead- 
ing Democrats of Union township and 
served as trustee of the township and also 
as township assessor. To him were born 
four sons and five daughters, four of 
whom are living : Jonathan ; JMary, wife 
of Lewis Raver; Eliza, wife of Noah 
Blosser, and Adaline, wife of Jacob Keiser. 
Jonathan Seaman came to Wells 
county as a boy and worked on his father's 
farm, at the same time attending the com- 
mon schools and receiving an education 
which was good for the time. At about 
the age of twenty-one years he was mar- 
ried to ]\Iiss Elizabeth McBride, who was 
of Scotch-Irish descent, being the daugh- 
ter of Robert McBride. She was born in 
Rush county, Indiana, and had received 



such education as was at that time pos- 
sible. In 1863 they moved to their farm, 
where they resided until the spring of 
1902, when he bought the Christmore 
farm. He formally owned one hundred 
and twenty acres, but sold forty acres to 
Ed Piatt, thus reducing his farm to eighty 
acres, which he still cultivates. One son 
was born to them, but the young par- 
ents were not long permitted to enjoy the 
little blossom given into their care and in 
1864, only a year after he first smiled into 
a fond mother's face, little Burwell was 
again taken to his home beyond the cares 
of earth. Being left without children. Mr. 
and Mrs. Seaman fostered Edward Piatt, 
whom they soon grew to look upon as 
their own. These prominent people are 
members of the Evangelical church and 
have spent much time in the work of the 
congregation. Mr. Seaman is at present 
one of the trustees of the church and dis- 
charges his duties in an honorable and 
upright manner and to the entire satis- 
faction of the parishioners. The Demo- 
cratic party has always received his vote 
and in the affairs of his party he has been 
instrumental in their advancement in many 
ways. He served one term as trustee of 
Union township, during which time he 
took an active interest in educational af- 
fairs and was instrumental in obtaining 
the advancement of a sum of money suffi- 
cient to build several new school-houses 
v.hich were erected under his direction and 
supervision. He is well and favorably 
known among the residents of the town- 
ship and county in which he resides and 
is looked upon as one interested in the ad- 
vancement of the interests of his com- 
munitv. 



556 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



NOAH JOHNSON. 

This gallant ex-soldier and at present a 
resident of Union township. Wells county, 
Indiana, was born in W^ashington county, 
Pennsylvania. April 27. 1826, a son of James 
and Rebecca (Baxter) Johnson, also natives 
of the Keystone state. Solomon Johnson, 
grandfather of Noah, was a native of Wales 
and, with two brothers, came while young to 
America and settled in Pennsylvania, where 
he married Fannie Warren, and where he 
and wife passed the remainder of life. Sol- 
omon, who was born January 3, 1765, died 
July 24. 1843, and Fannie (Warren) John- 
son, who was of German descent, was born 
August I, 1772, and died June 15, 1838. 
The}- were the parents of fourteen children, 
namely: Pattie, born December 23, 1791 : 
Joseph, born February 15. 1793; Jacob, born 
July 17, 1794; Rebecca, born June 3. 1796; 
Dorcas, born February 28. 1798; Eliza, born 
February 27. 1800 ; James, born January 18, 
1802; Abram, born January 8, 1804; Eliza, 
born December 7, 1805; Anna, born Sep- 
tember 29, 18 — ; J. B., born April 18. 18 10: 
Sarah B., born October 28. 18 12. and Wil- 
liam, born November 22, 1820. James 
Johnson was reared a farmer in Pennsyl- 
vania, was married in that state, then re- 
moved to Ohio and in 1853 came to Indiana 
and settled in Allen county, where his death 
took place. To James and Rebecca John- 
son were born fourteen children, of whom 
Noah was the first born and of wli<;im eleven 
still survive. 

Noah Johnson was also reared to agricul- 
ture, and educated in the district schools and 
married Miss Sarah Thomas, a daughter of 
Enos and Margaret (Cameron) Thomas. 
Sarah Thomas was educated in Ohio and 



came from Columbiana county. Ohio, to 
Wells county. Indiana, with her husband in a 
wagon. Here Mr. Johnson purchased the 
farm he still continues to occupy and culti- 
vate and which he wrought out from a dense 
forest. Although Mr. Johnson went in debt 
for the greater part of his purchase, he 
eventually succeeded in liquidating the in- 
cumbrance and is now in good circumstances. 
The marriage of Mr. and ^Nlrs. Johnson has 
been crowned with eight children, namely : 
Emmett.born in i847;Amizet, born May 13, 
1850; Rebecca, born August 14. 1852, and 
now the widow of Zeph Babcock ; Margaret, 
born December 5, 1855, and now the wife of 
Frank Detier; Elizabeth, born April 23, 
i860, and now the widow (if \\'. ^^'. Greek ; 
Bethena. born Jul}- 14. 1858. is still at home: 
Albert L., born October 17, 1862, and Ella, 
born July 7, 1866. 

After his marriage and when he was well 
settled on his farm the great Civil war broke 
out, and Mr. Johnson, filled with patriotism 
and indignation, tendered his services, and 
his life if necessary, to the government, en- 
listing in Company E. Thirty-fourth Indi- 
ana A'olunteer Infantry. October 17, 1862, 
under Capt. Harry Deam, at Bluflfton. He 
took part in the Vicksburg campaign, the 
battle at Port Gibson, the fight at Champion 
Hill, back of Vicksburg and at Jackson, all 
in Mississippi, and after the last campaign 
he was transferred to New Orleans, Lousi- 
ana, where he did garrison dut)- until De- 
cember, 1863. He also took part in the Red 
Ri\'er expedition, and the fight at Browns- 
ville, Texas, and was honorably mustered 
out after the close of the war in 1865, but 
with the partial loss of eyesight, for which 
catastrophe the government allows him a 
pension of one dollar per day. In politics 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



557 



Noah Johnson was first a Whig, but on the 
founding of the RepubHcan party joined its 
ranks. Mrs. Johnson is a devout member 
of the United Brethren church, in the radi- 
cal branch of which she is an ardent worker. 
Enos Thomas, the father of Mrs. John- 
son, was one of the eariiest justices of Col- 
umbiana county, having been appointed to 
his ofiice by President George W'ashington. 
Seth Thomas, ilrs. Johnson's grandfather, 
was a native of England, married Martha 
Kirk, also a daughter of Albion's isle, and 
this couple were the progenitors of the pres- 
ent family bearing their names in the state 
of Indiana. The Johnson family are among 
the most respected residents of Union town- 
ship. Wells county, and. having been married 
for more than half a century, may be well 
considered as among the patriarchs of the 
count}- to which they ha\-e contributed so 
much of their labor and enterprises in re- 
deeming it from the wilderness and in mak- 
ing it the pleasant abode that it is today. 



HENRY H. LASSrrER. 

Agriculture has been the true source 
of man's domain on earth ever since the 
primal existence of labor and has been 
the pivotal point of industry that has 
controlled for the most part all the fields 
of action to which his intelligence and 
energy have been devoted. In a civilized 
community no calling is more certain of 
yielding a compensatory return than that 
which is culled from a kindly soil, albeit 
the husbandman at times is sorely taxed 
in coaxing from old ^lother Earth all 
that he desires or even expects; yet she 



is a kind mother, being only desirous of 
bringing out whatever there is of good in 
her children, and seldom chastens with 
disappointment the one whose diligence 
and frugality she deems it but just should 
be rewarded. The subject of this sketch 
has found a benefactress in his planetary 
mother, for at an early age he was thrown 
upon his own resources and without the 
warmth of her smile he must needs have 
sutifered, even though his courage was of 
the greatest. 

Henry H. Lassiter was the son of 
William and Eliza (Wood) Lassiter, who 
were descended from a long line of English 
ancestors. The great-grandfather and 
grandfather of the subject were born and 
reared in England and came to America 
when the grandfather was a young man, 
settling in North Carolina, wdiere they 
became husbandmen of the soil. The 
Wood family, which boasts of having a 
descendant in the person of the subject, 
were natives of New Jersey, where his 
mother was born. Both father and moth- 
er were reared in North Carolina, where 
they lived until their deaths. Great wealth 
came to bless their home, the father be- 
coming the possessor of three mills, one 
thousand acres of land and numberless 
slaves. Later the slaves were sold and the 
family were no longer troubled with the 
care of their bondmen. Thirteen children 
came to this home of peace and wealth, 
but of one only will this sketch attempt to 
deal. 

Henry Lassiter as a boy showed a dis- 
position to trade and traffic and was thus 
tempted to neglect his education to such 
an extent that in later years he wished 
he had been less mercantile and more 



558 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



studious. He first began his life of trad- 
ing by running a six-horse team, seHing 
general merchandise and buying and sell- 
ing horses during the time of. the war. He 
made plenty of money and was on a fair 
road to a position of wealth had not the 
war broken him up. leaving him nothing 
with which to face the world. Miss Caro- 
line Allred. of Randolph county, North 
Carolina, became his wife in March, 1862. 
At this time his fortunes were beginning 
to look somber and before the end of the 
war he was again a poor man. To their 
marriage were born William M., James T., 
Delfina J., Nathan P., Alvira C, Wiley M., 
Patia I. and Henry A., all of whom are 
married but the two last named. Henry 
H. Lassiter came to Knightstown, Henry 
county, Indiana, May 11, 1864, with but 
five cents in his pocket and a wife in 
the South dependent upon him for sup- 
port. Being a carpenter, he soon made 
money and came to Wayne township, 
Huntington county, Indiana, where he re- 
mained until 1865, when he moved to a 
farm in \\'ayne township near Mount 
Elvia. In the meantime he was joined l)y 
his family, his wife having to take the oath 
of allegiance, and after a short residence 
in Wayne township he removed to 
^^"abash county and engaged in the butch- 
ering business, finally taking up farming 
again in Dallas township, where he Ii\-ed 
for thirty years. He finally sold his farm 
in Dallas township and came to Union 
township, where he bought a quarter of 
section 3, the original Seaman farm, where 
he now lives. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lassiter have been 
members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church for many years and are actively 



comiected with the church, Mr. Lassiter 
being a steward. The Republican party 
has always received his vote and all his 
life he has taken part in the political aft'airs 
of his community. Mr. Lassiter is a man 
of much travel, having visited the greater 
portion of the United States, and has 
profited much by his experiences. He is a 
breeder of Percheron and Patchen horses 
and also of Polled Durham cattle, having 
some of the finest stock in the country. He 
also has a great reputation as a veterinary 
surgeon, having been a practitioner for 
thirty years, during which time he has 
made the study of animals a specialty. He 
holds a license to practice in the state of 
Indiana, where he has done a large busi- 
ness since beginning his practice. He 
has always been a lover of horses and it 
is proliably to that lo\'e that he can point 
as an incentive to him in taking up the 
profession of veterinary surgery and no 
animal has had so ardent a student as this 
farmer has proven himself to be of the 
horse, of which he is familiar to the minut- 
est detail. As a non-professional man Mr. 
Lassiter is an up-to-date farmer, a good 
citizen and an excellent neighbor and en- 
joys the highest regard of the community. 



E. H. BOTTS, M. D. 

In the following sketch it will be seen 
how a man with a sufificient amount of cour- 
age can make of his life what he will. No 
matter what the ambitions, what the long- 
ings of the human heart, courage and perse- 
\-erance will ultimately win the goal, and no 
difference what the disadvantages, they can 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'VNA. 



559 



be overcome if only a man's will and courage 
remain undaunted. Dr. Botts, being one of 
those who would not acknowledge failure, 
won, after many years of patient endeavor, 
the success for which he sighed. 

Dr. E. H. Botts, of Zanesville, is the son 
of David and Ellenor (Fordyce) Botts, both 
now deceased. He was born in Clinton coun- 
ty, Ohio, May 20, 1858, and was reared amid 
the scenes of rural life. He attended the 
graded schools at Genntown, Ohio, and came 
to Huntington county, Indiana, in 188 1. se- 
curing employment on a farm in order to 
have the benefit of outdoor life. Two years 
later, in August, 1883, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Ida Young, a daughter 
of John Young, of Huntington coun- 
ty, Indiana, who was born in that county 
in March, 1864. When a boy he had a 
liking for the medical profession, which was 
shown even in his play. Being poor and 
with nothing but his strong will and indom- 
itable courage to carry him through the 
world, he rented a farm with the intention of 
making enough money to enable him to take 
a course in medicine. For two years he 
borrowed books and after working all day in 
the fields would read until far into the night, 
thus acquiring a rudimentary knowledge of 
his profession. He further pursued his 
studies for six years under the perceptorship 
of Dr. IraE. Lyons, of Huntington, and later 
with Dr. E. S. Fisher, of Markle, Indiana. In 
the fall of 1889 he entered the Fort Wayne 
Medical College, in which he took a three 
years' course, graduating in March, 1893. 
Immediately thereafter Dr. Botts located at 
Zanesville, where he began his profession 
encumbered with a heavy debt. His prac- 
tice soon became lucrative and exceeded his 
anticipations. Besides now owning an eighty- 



acre farm in Huntington county, he enjoys a 
large and lucrative practice. The Doctor 
has not had children of his own, but has 
taken into his family his brother's son, Ver- 
non, whom he is educating. Owing to his 
profession he has held aloof from political 
work, but has kept himself informed on the 
issues of the day, being a supporter of Demo- 
cratic principles. He conscientiously per- 
forms his professional duties, taking pride in 
keeping abreast with the times. 



ROBERT CLARK. 

The present competent postmaster of 
Zanesville, Wells county, Indiana, Robert 
Clark, is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth 
(McGoogan) Clark, and was born in Tus- 
carawas county, Ohio, February 13, 1839. 
Daniel Clark was a native of New Bruns- 
wick and early came to the United States, 
locating in Ohio where he was subsequent- 
ly married. From Ohio Daniel and Eliza- 
beth Clark removed to Allen county, In- 
diana, in 1848, but later settled north of 
Zanesville, Allen county, in the same year 
purchased a farm and there passed the re- 
mainder of life. He was a gentleman of 
fine education, was an eloquent speaker 
and was favorably known as an advocate 
of Republican principles throughout Allen 
and Wells counties, having united with 
the RepubHcans on the disintegration of 
the old Whig party, of which he had pre- 
viously been a member. Mr. Clark was a 
most public spirited citizen and a strong 
friend of the common schools. His death 
took place in the faith of the Baptist 
church, in which he had long been a dea- 



56o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



con. The children born to Daniel and 
Elizabeth Clark were six in number and 
in order of birth were named as follows: 
Charles. Sarah J., William. Robert, Ben- 
jamin and Sophia, of whom three are still 
living. 

Robert Clark was a lad of about ten 
years of age when brought to Indiana by 
his parents. He was early inured to hard 
labor and passed his boyhood days in as- 
sisting his father in clearing up the Indi- 
ana farms. He secured a very good com- 
mon school education, became a teacher 
in the public schools, later learned the car- 
penter's trade, but was engaged in farm- 
ing when the tremendous civil strife broke 
out between the North and the South. Rob- 
ert Clark was a patriotic youth and a lover 
of freedom, and at once ofifered his serv- 
ices in defense of his country's flag by en- 
listing, in August, 1862, in Company G 
(Capt. Truesdale), One Hundred and First 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the battle 
of Milton, Tennessee, March 20, 1863, 
Mr. Clark was badly wounded and in- 
capacitated from further active service. 
After recuperating sufficiently, he was 
honorably discharged from the army and 
returned to his home. 

In September, 1864, Mr. Clark was 
united in marriage with Miss Amanda 
Dif^endorfer, who was born in Pennsyl- 
vania and came to Wells county, Indiana, 
in 1 86 1 with her parents, Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Silvers) Diffendorfer. To the mar- 
riage of ;Mr. and IMrs. Clark have been 
born nine children, in the following order: 
Lizzie died in childhood ; James C. ; Min- 
nie W., wife of Heber Wagner, of Co- 
lumbia City, Indiana ; Theodore, who mar- 
ried Mary Shepler, is a barber at Fort 



Wayne, Indiana; William H.. who married 
Myrtle Fults, also resides in Fort Wayne; 
Charles married Clara Cline and lives in 
Zanesville; Markley married Eflfie Flack 
and also resides in Zanesville; Chase and 
Alma. The family attend the church of 
God, in which Mr. Clark is an elder, and 
fraternally he is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic at Roanoke, Indi- 
ana. In politics he is a substantial Re- 
publican and in January, 1898, was ap- 
pointed postmaster of Zanesville, under 
the administration of President McKin- 
ley, although he had filled the same office 
under President Benjamin Harrison. In 
conjunction with conducting the affairs of 
his official position, Mr. Clarke carries on 
the harness business, and is regarded not 
only as an obliging and afifable official, but 
as an upright business man and is highly 
esteemed for his many fine personal qualities. 



JAMES L. McBRIDE, M. D. 

Among the eminent and rising young 
medical men of Zanesville, Wells county, 
Indiana, stands Dr. James L. McBride, 
who was born in Lancaster township, this 
county, September 8, 1865, a son of J. L. 
and Jennie (McNary) McBride, of Scotch- 
Irish descent. The future doctor was 
reared upon the home farm and received 
the rudiments of his education in the dis- 
trict school, and at the age of eighteen 
years was granted a license to teach in 
Wells county. He reviewed his studies in 
the normal schools and later became a 
leading teacher and was appointed prin- 
cipal of the graded schools of Zanesville, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



561 



holding the position during the winters of 
1887 and 1888. He then entered the office 
of Dr. L. A. Cook, Bkiffton, under whose 
judicious instruction he made rapid prog- 
ress and was soon prepared to enter the 
Indiana ^Medical School. This event took 
place in the fall of 1889 and in March. 
1892, he was graduated. At this period 
of his career, the young doctor found him- 
self heavily in debt, but the incumbrance 
had been secured by the guarantees of his 
friends and he felt that a brilliant future 
was awaiting him. He at once entered 
into a competitive examination for the po- 
sition of assistant surgeon at the National 
Military Home at Marion, Indiana, and 
secured the appointment in 1892 and im- 
mediately took a post-graduate course in 
Chicago. The position he had secured 
enabled him to liquidate the debts for 
which his friends had gone security and 
he was soon on his feet again. After serv- 
iiig one year as assistant surgeon of the 
National Military Home, Dr. McBride 
withdrew from the position on account 
of failing health and located in Zanesville, 
where his superior abilities as a physician 
met with a speedy recognition and where 
he has secured an extensive and remuner- 
ative line of patronage in both Wells and 
Allen counties. 

Dr. McBride was united in marriage 
October 8, 1892. with Miss Almissie 
Michaels, a native of Allen county, Indi- 
ana, and who was educated in Zanesville. 
This happy union has been crowned with 
three children, namely: Donald, born 
April II. 1894; Justine, January 27, 1895. 
and Bonnie, December 23, 1897. Mrs. Mc- 
Bride is a member of the Lutheran church, 
to the support of which the Doctor is him- | 



self a liberal contributor. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic order and of the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America, as well as the 
Brotherhood of American Yeomen. In 
politics the Doctor is a sound Republi- 
can, and at one time was chairman of the 
Republican central committee of Wells 
county. He is a fluent speaker and a 
trenchant writer, as well as a brilliant 
conversationalist, and he is moreover a 
high-minded and public spirited citizen 
and a most agreeable neighbor and his 
frankness in treating his patients is com- 
mended by all who give him their pro- 
fessional patronage. The Doctor owns a 
fine ten-acre tract of land in Union town- 
ship, which he has acquired through his 
fees as a physician, and he keeps it in a 
high state of cultivation. 

Jonathan Michaels, father of ]\Irs. Dr. 
McBride, was born in the village of 
Sultz-am-Neckon, Germany, November 
16, 1832, a son of John G. and Mary 
(Smith) Michaels, who came to America in 
1834. For about eight years the Michaels 
family lived in Williamsport. Maryland, 
and in 1863 came to Zanesville, Indiana. 
January 29. 1855. Jonathan Michaels was 
joined in marriage with Miss Sarah A. 
Cline. who bore him six children, namely: 
John B., Amanda V.. Juniata, Arbelan ^I.. 
Almissie H. and Sarah J. The mother of 
these children was called from earth Oc- 
tober I, 1865. 

There are but few physicians young as 
Dr. McBride who have gained so eminent 
a standing in the profession, and much of 
his popularity without a doubt, regardless 
of his acknowledged ability, is due to his 
cheerful and enlivening conduct in the 
sick-room, through which he secures at 



562 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



once the confidence of his patient and 
arouses faith in his skill. 



AUGUSTUS W. HAMILTON. 

Prominent among the young attorneys 
of Wells county, Indiana, is Augustus W. 
Hamilton, who was born in Union town- 
ship, August 30, 1873, and is a son of 
William M. and Mary E. Hamilton. He 
graduated from the public schools of his 
township at the age of sixteen, then, in 
the winter terms of 1892 and 1893, at- 
tended the normal school at Marion, Indi- 
ana. The following summer he worked 
for his father on the home farm and dur- 
in the winter succeeding taught school in 
Union township. In the spring of 1894 
Mr. Hamilton matriculated at the Indiana 
University, after a three-year course in the 
North Manchester College, and the next 
summer he passed at Winona Park, where 
he was employed in scientific work. The 
year following he taught school in Union 
township, and during the succeeding 
spring and summer passed his time at the 
Indiana University and the winter follow- 
ing again taught in the same township. 
The spring of 1896 he again attended the 
Indiana University, and the summer was 
spent at Wawasee Lake biological station. 
About 1897 Mr. Hamilton was appointed 
principal of schools at Edgerton, Indiana, 
then spent another summer at the Wawa- 
see station and the next year was principal 
of schools at Hoagland, Indiana. The 
spring and summer following he again 
passed at the university, then went back 
to Hoagland and passed the summer sea- 



son, the latter part of the summer at the 
university, and at Todd & Todd's law of- 
fice at Bluffton. He again became princi- 
pal of the schools at Hoagland and later 
spent a spring and summer in the study of 
law at the Indiana University, the latter 
part of the summer in Eichhorn's law of- 
fice in Bluft'ton. The next year he spent 
at the university, where he completed his 
law course, and was admitted to practice 
in the Wells county circuit court in Sep- 
tember, 1900. In May, 1902, Mr. Ham- 
ilton opened his ofifice in the Odd Fellows' 
building at Bluffton, where he has since 
had the good fortune of meeting with a 
steady and lucrative patronage. 

In politics Mr. Hamilton has always 
been a sound Democrat, and at the con- 
vention of his party held at Bluffton in 
1902 was placed in nomination for the of- 
fice of joint senator for the counties of 
Wells, Blackford and Grant, though not 
elected, as the normal majority of the 
Republicans was three thousand, yet he 
carried his party strength with a large 
complimentary vote. He is a fair example 
of the self-made man, and as a politician 
and party manager has few equals in this 
county. 

Mr. Hamilton is a member of a very 
talented family and of five brothers who 
finished their education at Indiana Uni- 
versity, three are college professors and 
one is teacher of science in the Bluffton 
high school. 

He has always been a studious young 
man and has never been frivolous in his 
conduct or prodigal of his time. His in- 
dustry, integrity and energy have won the 
approbation of hosts of appreciative 
friends. No man can peer into the depths 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



563 



of the mysterious future, but if coming 
events are at all foreshadowed by those 
which have passed away, analogy would 
indicate a bright career for Mr. Hamil- 
ton in the vears vet to come. 



JACOB SMUTS. 

Many natives of the state of Ohio are 
now residents of Wells county, Indiana, 
and are among the most prominent citi- 
zens and agriculturists of the county, 
which they have in a great measure 
wrought out from a wilderness of wood 
and swamp and converted into a bloom- 
ing garden of flowers, fruit and grain. 
Among these is Jacob Smuts, who was 
born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June 
3, 1845, and is a son of Robert and Eliza- 
beth ( Kohr) Smuts, the former of whom 
was a native of Pennsylvania and of Ger- 
man extraction. From Pennsylvania Rob- 
ert Smuts removed to Ohio and thence 
came to Wells county, Indiana, in 1848 
and here entered the land on which Hiram 
Lantz now resides. This property in due 
course of time he cleared up from the for- 
est and changed into a fruitful and profit- 
able farm, realizing a satisfactory com- 
petence and eventually retired to Hunt- 
ington, and there passed the remainder 
of his life in peace and comfort, dying 
honored and respected. Of the twelve 
children born to Robert and Elizabeth 
Smuts, nine are still living. 

Jacob Smuts was reared on the farm 
and was thoroughly trained in agricul- 
ture. He was educated in the district 



schools of his neighborhood and began 
making a livelihood by working out as a 
farm hand by the month. He married 
Lavina Kessler, who was born in Ohio, 
but was reared in Wells county, Indiana, 
by Jacob F. Barnett. To Jacob and La- 
vina (Kessler) Smuts have i^een born 
seven children, of whom six are still liv- 
ing, namely: Ulysses G., Ira C, John M., 
Homer V., Cora B. and Jennie P. Air. 
Smuts was possessed of but little wealth 
when his marriage took place, but he has 
since been a hard worker and through his 
industry has earned for himself a fine 
farm of one hundred and four acres in 
Union township, on which he erected, in 
1894, a handsome brick dwelling and has 
improved the place in every respect that 
makes farm life profitable, respectable and 
comfortable. He is a member of the Pro- 
gressive Brethren church, in which he has 
been trustee and is now treasurer, and 
Airs. Smuts is a member of the Church 
of God. Both are sincere and consistent 
church workers and lead a life that is be- 
yond reproach. 

In politics Air. Smuts is an active and 
leading Republican and makes his in- 
fluence felt in his party's councils. He is 
popular as a party man and as a citizen and 
has served as supervisor of the township. 

The industrious habits of Mr. Smuts 
are well worthy the emulation and imita- 
tion of the rising generation, for he has 
certainly led a life that points a way for the 
youth of the land to tread in and make 
rapid progress through the intricacies of 
life and avoid the obstacles that usually 
beset the way of the inexperienced and un- 
sophisticated. The social standing of 
I Air. and Airs. Smuts is all that could pos- 



564 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



sibly be desired by the most ambitious of 
citizens and they are held in high esteem 
by their neighbors. Mr. Smuts, it will be 
seen from the foregoing, is what is usually 
termed a self-made man and too much 
credit cannot be awarded him for persist- 
ing in following the habits he formed 
when young, which persistency has culmi- 
nated in placing him in his present exalt- 
ed position. Blessed with robust health 
throughout Hfe and an equal temper, he 
now, in his mellow middle-age, enjoys ex- 
istence only as it can be enjoyed by those 
who have been temperate in all things. 



JAMES M. SETTLEMEYER. 

Very few men of wealth or prominence 
interested themselves in the early settle- 
ment of eastern Indiana. Government 
land was so plentiful all over what had 
formally been the Northwest territory that 
it was no object for land syndicates to get 
possession of and control it, even if such 
a thing as a land syndicate had existed 
in those days. In most instances the gov- 
ernment and the settler made their trans- 
actions direct, and they were always satis- 
factory. Even then, however, there were 
a few who realized that eventually the land 
would become valuable and strained every 
nerve to get possession of as much as 
their means would allow. To them the 
usual reward of foresight has been meted 
out. They increased their material wealth 
many fold. One of these was ^^'illiam Set- 
tlemeyer, father of John M. Settlemeyer, 
the subject of this sketch, who at one time 
in the early days of the settlement was the 



owner of many hundred acres in Indiana 
and Ohio. At his home in Warren county, 
Ohio, he owned a fine farm of two hundred 
acres and he also had a clear title to some 
fifteen hundred acres in Indiana and Ohio. 

James M. Settlemeyer, was born in 
W'ayne county, Ohio, December 30, 1845. 
The family of his father were natives of 
Virginia, though of Scotch ancestry. His 
mother's maiden name was Ann Wilker- 
son and she was of a Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, family. Mr. Settlemeyer had serv- 
ed as a soldier in the war of 181 2, being 
stationed at Fort Recovery, Ohio. His 
family consisted of four sons who reached 
maturity, three of whom are still living, 
James M.. Bayless N., of the old home- 
stead, and . John, of Roanoke, Indiana. 
The father died in his Ohio home Septem- 
ber 7, 1876. 

James M. Settlemeyer grew to man- 
hood on his father's farm. He secured a 
good education in the district schools, and 
made his home beneath his father's roof 
until he was twenty-five years of age. He 
then rented a tract of land owned by his 
father in Union township. Wells county, 
and with an assurance that the place would 
some day be his, he came out to \\'ells county 
in 1869 and entered upon the task of clearing 
the land, making a farm of it and a home 
upon it. September 22, 1872, he was united 
in marriage to ]\Iiss Ellen Jacobs, a native of 
Dekalb county, Indiana, daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. E. Jacobs, early settlers of W^ells 
county, coming here when she was but a 
child. The young people, soon after their 
marriage, established themselves in house- 
keeping upon the farm, and thereafter it 
was noticed that the cleariijgs, the drainage 
and the fencing progressed with much more 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



565 



energ}- and zeal than theretofore, further 
evidence of the fact that matrimon}- is ahvays 
productive of industry and thrift. At the 
present time the farm is splendidly im- 
proved, being cleared, well drained and 
fenced. A large, handsome, well finished 
residence has been erected and a substantial 
and commodious barn and all ncessary out- 
buildings give comfort and convenience to 
the place. 

Mr. and ]Mrs. Settlemeyer are the parents 
of one son, Lawrence, born August 19, 1876. 
He attended the district school and acquired 
a good education, later attending some three 
terms at the Northern Indiana Normal 
School at Valparaiso. He was married on 
the 27th day of April, 1895, to Miss Etta M. 
Roe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Roe, 
of L'nion township. One son has been born 
to them, Kenneth \\'., born June jo, 1902. 
His life has been devoted to the farm in asso- 
ciation with his father. He is interested 
in breeding Poland China hogs and in this 
line has met with commendable success. The 
farm has three flowing wells, offering an 
abundant supply of water for the stock. 

In politics James M. Settlemeyer is a 
Republican, sincere and consistent. He be- 
lieves in his party and in its principles and 
makes every effort to compass its success, not 
particularly for his own good or that of the 
party, but for the good of the country. He 
interests himself in politics purely from 
patriotic motives. The great questions of 
state which are constantly arising can be 
handled and disposed of, in his opinion, bet- 
ter by the Republican party than any other. 
He has served as committeeman from his 
township a number of times, was a delegate 
to the last Republican state convention and is 
at present a member of the advisory board of 



the count}-. Mrs. Settlemeyer is a member 
of the United Brethren church at Zanes- 
ville, that congregation being identified with 
what is termed the "radical wing" of that 
denomination. 

For over thirty years ^Ir. Settlemeyer 
has resided in Union township and during all 
that time no public enterprise has been 
brought to the front in which he has not 
taken a leading, active part, public improve- 
ments of all kinds having always found in 
him a steadfast friend and promoter. He i? 
never afraid, in public affairs or in private 
matters of his own, of the expenditure of a 
few dollars when the resultant good promises 
to overbalance the outlay, being never actu- 
ated by what is known as "a penny-wise 
policy." Strictly conscientious, fair and 
honest in all of his dealings, he believes in the 
full application of these principles to mat- 
ters in which the public is interested and 
well deserves the success which he has at- 
tained. 



JOHN F. ROE. 

The youth who remains close to the par- 
ental roof will not see as much of the world 
or its people as will he who roams about; but 
it is safe to predict that at the end of a given 
period gold pieces will be jingling in the 
pockets of the first when pennies will not be 
sufficiently numerous in the pockets of the 
second to make a noise. This thought is 
very forcibly expressed in the saying, which 
is almost of sufficient antiquity to be re- 
ferred to as a proverb, "A rolling stone 
gathers no moss." There are, however, ex- 
ceptions to all rules and one of the exceptions 
to the above is J. F. Roe, of Union town- 



566 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ship, Wells county, the subject of this sketch. 
He spent ten years of his early manhood at 
various points in the great west, employed 
in various positions, contracted no very bad 
habits and returned to the county of his 
nativity, with money in his pocket. ' He 
might have had a good deal more money if 
he had never traveled, but certainly he would 
not be possessed of a tittle of the information 
that is his regarding this wonderful country 
in which we live and the remarkable people 
who inhabit it. 

John F. Roe, familiarly called Frank, is 
a son of Isaac and Catherine (Thomas) 
Roe and was born in Union township, Wells 
county, Indiana, July 8, 1859. His father 
was a native of Ohio, where he grew to 
manhood. In 1826 he came to Indiana and 
settled on land near where the city of Indi- 
anapolis now stands. He remained there 
three years, then in disgust returned to 
Ohio. Soon afterward the paternal grand- 
father of the subject decided to look over 
Indiana for himself. He rode on horseback 
from his home in Ohio to Randolph county, 
Indiana, a distance of one hundred and thir- 
ty miles, selected a tract of eighty acres of 
land, then went to the land office at Fort 
Wayne, made the official arrangement re- 
garding his entry and returned to his home 
in Ohio. Within a very short time the fam- 
ily had packed up and were on their way 
o\'erland in a big wagon to their new home. 
While the father was building his cabin the 
family camped on the ground where the town 
of Ridgeville now stands. 

In 1846 Isaac Roe was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Nancy Renbarger and a little 
later they moved to Union township. Wells 
count}-, where he entered a quarter section 
of government land in section 17. He built 



a home, the typical log cabin of that period, 
and applied himself with zeal and energy to 
the clearing and improvement of his land. 
By the end of the first year his young wife 
died, leaving his home desolate. After re- 
maining a widower for more than ten years, 
he was for a second time united in marriage. 
On this occasion his bride was Miss Cathar- 
ine Thomas, and one child, J. F. Roe, the 
subject of this sketch, was born to this 
union. The young mother was permitted to 
care for her little son but one year, when 
death claimed her. The maternal grand- 
mother, Mrs. Thomas, then took the boy and 
reared him until he was nine years old when 
he was taken by an uncle, Benjamin Roe, 
at Ridgeville, Randolph county, which re- 
mained his home until he was sixteen years 
of age. During his- residence in Ridgeville 
he attended the public schools and made 
rapid progress in his studies. He especially 
excelled in penmanship and mathematics, 
which secured for him a position in one of 
the local mercantile establishments, which he 
held for three years. A desire to see more 
of the world then took possession of him and 
he went west, where he remained for ten 
years, engaged in different kinds of em- 
ployment at various points. He worked in 
an express office for a time, then in a hard- 
ware store, finally making the trip to Cali- 
fornia, where he worked on the Southern 
Pacific Railroad. Later he took a position 
for the Lake Hemett Land and Water Com- 
pany, of Lakeside county, California. It 
was a very responsible position and he held 
it for a number of years. Like the lamb that 
had wandered from the fold, he at last 
yearned to come home, and arrived in Wells 
county in April, 1889. 

In November of the following vear, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



367 



1890, Mr. Roe was united in marriage to 
Miss Delia Young, a daughter of Samuel 
and Christina Young, of Allen county, In- 
diana, who had moved to Wells county in 
1876 and settled on a farm in Union town- 
ship. She was born in 1868, and was a 
young lad}- of intelligence, refinement and 
fair education. Their married life of twelve 
years has been most happy, although no chil- 
dren have come to bless their union. His 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres lies 
three and one-half miles north of Markle 
and is one of the most desirable farms in the 
township, consisting of a tract entered and 
improved by his father and has never been 
transferred by deed. In politics he con- 
fesses to being a Democrat, but he is never a 
partisan. Like all men who have traveled 
much, he has broad and liberal views on all 
questions which arise, whether religious, po- 
litical or social. While rather steadfast in 
his views on questions to which he has given 
consideration, he always exhibits a hearty re- 
spect for the opinions of others. Having few 
domestic cares, he and his wife employ their 
leisure time in the perusal of good- books, 
with the result that it would be difficult to 
find a household every member of which is 
as well informed on nearly every subject and 
as well versed on current questions and the 
topics of the day. They are a model couple, 
loving and respecting each other and warmly 
admired b}- their neighbors and friends. 



THO.MAS B. ^lORRIS, M. D. 

Back to that cradle of much of our na- 
tional history, the Old Dominion state, must 
we turn in tracing the genealogy of Dr. ^lor- 



ris, and at a later period the family name 
and that of the collateral line became promi- 
nently identified with the history of Ken- 
tucky, whose annals have been dignified by 
the lives and labors of those with whom our 
subject is linked by consanguinity. Per- 
sonally he is numbered among the represent- 
ative members of the medical profession of 
Wells county, being established in practice 
in the attractive village of Mount Zion. De- 
voted to the noble and humane work which 
his profession implies, faithful and indefat- 
igable in his efforts, he has not only earned 
a due reward in a temporal way, but has 
also proved himself eminently worthy to ex- 
ercise the important functions of his call- 
ing, by reason of his ability, his abiding sym- 
pathy and his earnest zeal in behalf of his 
fellow men. His understanding of the 
science of medicine is broad and compre- 
hensive and the profession and the public 
have accorded him the high esteem and con- 
fidence justly due under such conditions and 
with such attributes as are his. 

Dr. Morris is a native of Bracken coun- 
ty, Kentucky, having been born on a farm 
near the town of Augusta, on the 6th of Aug- 
ust, 1848, and being a son of John P. and 
Mary Ann (McClennahan) Morris, both 
members of old Kentucky families and both 
natives of that state. Capt. Philip Buckner, 
the maternal grandfather of John P. Morris, 
was born in England, on the 13th of May, 
1747, and as a young man he emigrated to 
America, being here married, in 1772, to a 
Miss Daniels, of Port Royal, Virginia. At 
the outbreak of the war of the Revolution 
he espoused the cause of the colonists and 
served in the Continental line, while for com- 
missary supplies which he furnished from his 
home in Virginia he received at the close of 



568 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



tlie war land warrants, on which he made 
selection of lands in Kentucky and Ohio. He 
brought his family and his negroes down the 
Ohio river on flatboats, disembarking at 
Louis\ille, which was then a small village, 
and later returned to Virginia and organ- 
ized a company of families who came to 
Kentucky and under his supervision organ- 
ized a colony at Augusta, Bracken county, 
of which town he was thus the virtual 
founder. He acquired an extensive landed 
estate, having erected his first dwelling in the 
year 1797, and it is interesting to note in the 
connection that the foundations of this an- 
cient building are still standing. Captain 
Buckner donated large tracts of land to the 
town of Augusta, and it was through his 
progressive spirit that the colony and town 
flourished to so notable a degree. He was 
the first representative from that county in 
the legislature of Kentucky and was one of 
the framers of the constitution of the com- 
monwealth, having been a member of the 
first constitutional convention, while his 
sons-in-law were the first ofiicers elected in 
Bracken county after its erection. He was 
a man of fine mentality, genial and hospit- 
able and a true t}'pe of the old-school gen- 
tleman. He assisted many persons in se- 
curing farms and establishing homes and 
no man in the locality had a firmer hold upon 
public confidence and esteem. When well 
advanced in years he retired to a distance of 
fourteen miles in the wilderness in order that 
he might have access to more game, having 
been an enthusiastic nimrod and an expert 
shot. He died at his home in Bracken coun- 
ty on the 24th of October, 1820, in the ful- 
ness of years and well earned honors. His 
son-in-law, Dickinson Morris, grandfather 
of Dr. Morris, was the first sheriff of Brack- 



en county, and one of the influential citizens 
of the locality. He became an able surveyor 
and as such had charge of the surveying of 
the greater portion of Bracken county, where 
he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 
his death. His eldest son, B. S. Morris, be- 
came a distinguished member of the bar, was 
the second mayor of the city of Chicago, 
Illinois, and for a number of years was judge 
of the circuit court in that state. The third 
son, Philip B., was an extensive farmer in 
Kentucky, where he passed his entire life. 

John Pickett Morris, father of the Doc- 
tor, was reared and educated in Bracken 
county, where he turned his attention to 
agricultural pursuits, in which he was en- 
gaged from his youth until his death, in Oc- 
tober, 1895, at the venerable age of eighty- 
three years, having resided continuously on 
one farm for the long period of si.xty years, 
while the old homestead is still in the pos- 
session of the family. His devoted wife, 
who was born in Farquhar coitnty, Virginia, 
accompanied her parents on their removal 
to Kentucky when a child, and there was 
reared and educated, and she died on the old 
homestead on the 5th of Ai.igust, 1868, at the 
age of fifty-two years. They became the 
parents of eight sons and one daughter and 
all are living with the exception of two of the 
sons, while Dr. Morris and his brother Sam- 
uel B., of Liberty Center, Wells county, are 
the only representatives of the family in In- 
diana. 

Dr. Morris, of this sketch, was 
born on the old homestead farm, twelve 
miles west of Augusta, Bracken county, 
Kentucky, and his early educational discip- 
line was received in the public schools of his 
native state. In 1869, when about twenty- 
one years of age, he came to Wells county, 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



569 



Indiana, to visit relatives, and here he en- 
gaged in teaching in the district schools 
about two years, and while thus engaged he 
became so impressed with the attractions 
and advantages of this section of the state 
that he determined to take up his permanent 
residence here. He had previously taken up 
the study of medicine under the preceptor- 
ship of an old and able physician of Ken- 
tucky and after coming to Indiana he con- 
tinued his technical reading under the direc- 
tion of his brother, Dr. George P. Morris, 
who was at that time established in the prac- 
tice of his profession in Grant county. In 
1879 he was matriculated in the Fort Wayne 
Medical College, at Fort Wayne, this state, 
where he was graduated as a member of the 
class of 1 88 1, receiving the degree of Doc- 
tor of Medicine and being thoroughly forti- 
fied for the practice of his chosen profession, 
since he had been a close and appreciative stu- 
dent of both medicine and surgery and had 
spared no pains to secure the best experience 
in practical clinical work while pursuing his 
collegiate course. After his graduation Dr. 
Morris established himself in practice at Roll, 
Blackford county, Indiana, where he re- 
mained until 1883, when he came to Mount 
Zion, Wells county, which has since con- 
tinued to be his place of residence and his 
professional headquarters. He has built up a 
large and representative practice, which ex- 
tends throughout a wide radius of country, 
and his success has been the diametrical re- 
sult of his assiduous application, his unwav- 
ering devotion to his work and his constant 
and careful study of the sciences of medi- 
cine and surgery, in which he keeps in touch 
with the advances made from year to year, 
ha\-ing recourse to the best standard and 
periodical literature pertaining to the same. 



The Doctor is an honored member of the 
\\'ells County ]\Iedical Society, and has been 
a delegate from the same to the Indiana 
State iMedical Society, in which also he re- 
tains membership, while he has also been a 
delegate to the conventions of the American 
Medical Association. He is held in high 
esteem Ijy his professional confreres, being 
e\'er mindful of the ethics of the unwritten 
code, and is frequently called in consultation 
by other members of the profession. His 
practice has far exceeded in extent the lim- 
itations which he had considered possible, 
and both as a physician and a man he holds 
the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the 
community in which his services have been 
of so marked value and in which he has at- 
tained high prestige in his profession. The 
Doctor is the owner of two valuable farms 
in Wells county, on one of which are eight 
producing oil wells, through which he secures 
a good income, both farm properties being 
rented. In politics he gives his allegiance 
to the Democratic party so far as state and 
national affairs are involved, but in local 
matters, where no issue is to be considered, 
he is independent rather than holding to 
strict partisan lines. The Doctor served 
three years as postmaster of Mount Zion, 
under the administration of President Cleve- 
land. He is a charter member of Blount 
Zion Lodge No. 684, I. O. O. F., in which 
he is past noble grand, while he has repre- 
sented the same in the grand lodge of the 
state on three different occasions. He and 
his wife are vakled and active members of 
the Methodist Protestant church. 

On the nth of May, 1875, Dr. Morris 
was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. 
Lee, who was born in Wells county, being a 
daughter of Jonathan R. and Susanah (Ban- 



570 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ter) Lee, well known residents of the coun- 
ty. She was eighteen years of age at the 
time of her marriage, having been reared 
and educated in her native county and being 
a lady of gracious presence and distinctive 
refinement. Dr. and Mrs. Morris are the 
parents of two sons, namely: Oscar E., 
who married Miss Maud Huffman and who 
is one of the successful young farmers of 
Wells county; and George B., who is a stu- 
dent in the Indiana Medical College, at In- 
dianapolis, being a member of the class of 
1903 : he married Miss Rosa Wallace and 
thev have one child. Lillian Maxwell. 



D. D. STUDABAKER. 

Success in this life comes to the deserv- 
ing. It is an axiom demonstrated by all 
human experience that a man gets out of this 
life what he puts into it, plus a reasonable 
interest on the investment. The individual 
who inherits a large estate and adds nothing 
to his fortune cannot be called a successful 
man. He that falls heir to a large fortune 
and increases its value is successful in pro- 
portion to the amount he adds to his wealth. 
But the man who starts in the world un- 
aided and by sheer force of will, controlled 
by correct principles, forges ahead and at 
length reaches a position of honor among 
his fellow citizens achieves success such as 
representatives of the two former classes 
neither understand nor appreciate. To a 
considerable extent the subject of this 
sketch is a creditable representative of the 
class last named, a class which has fur- 
nished much of the bone and sinew of the 
country and added to the stability of the gov- 
ernment and its institutions. 



D. D. Studabaker is a native of Wells 
county, his birth occurring in Harrison 
township on the 4th of May, 1840, a son of 
the pioneers, William and Sarah A. (Thomp- 
son) Studabaker. He was reared upon the 
parental homestead and attended the sub- 
scription schools. Though his earlier educa- 
tion was necessarily limited, he has by close 
observation and contact with the world be- 
come well-informed and thoroughly in touch 
with modern business methods. David 
early formed an inclination for dealing in 
stock. He remained with his father until 
he was twenty-two years of age and in 
1862 undertook to operate the farm of 
Capt. Peter Studabaker while the latter was 
absent in military service. The subject 
farmed this property until 1866, when he set- 
tled on a farm adjoining the one On which 
he now lives. He has engaged in the various 
lines related to agriculture, including farm- 
ing, stock grazing, buying and selling, in 
all of which he has been successful, achieving 
an enviable reputation through his straight- 
forward and honorable business meth- 
ods. He was an extensive stock-shipper of 
the county to within twenty years, though 
since that time he has confined his operations 
principally to baling and shipping hay and 
straw. Aside from the \'aried interests per- 
taining to the farm. 'Mr. Studabaker has 
also done some contracting in the construc- 
tion of gravel roads in this and Grant coun- 
ties, his efforts in this line being the greatest 
of any citizen of the county. He built the 
second gravel road in the county, the one 
from Bluffton to Mount Zion, and among 
others which he constructed were the fol- 
lowing: The Markle, Gregg, Bluffton and 
Rifeton, Little, Poor Farm, Air Line, Stahl, 
Keystone, Gavin and others, the total 
amounting to fiftv miles in Wells and eight 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL^NA. 



571 



in Grant county. He bears the reputation of 
an honest and conscientious contractor and 
aU of his transactions in which the pubHc in- 
terests liave been involved have been con- 
ducted so as to win tlie approbation of the 
people. 

In the winter of 1865 Air. Studabaker 
was united in marriage with Miss Esther E. 
Stahl, the daughter of Abraham and Rebecca 
Stahl. She was born in Ohio, but her par- 
ents came to Wells county in the spring of 
1838, settling in Nottingham township. To 
this union have been born six children, three 
of whom are deceased. Those living are 
Hugh, an engineer on the Rock Island Rail- 
road; Sarah, the wife of Ross De\^ore, and 
Nora, who is at home. 'Mr. Studabaker is 
affiliated with the Democratic party. Though 
not a member of any church, he has ever 
been a liberal contributor to their support 
and casts his influence invariably on the 
side of morality and the higher interests of 
the community. With him to see and un- 
derstand the right is to do the same under 
all circumstances, fearlessness in the dis- 
charge of duty being one of his dominant 
characteristics, while he is ever careful and 
considerate of the feelings and opinions of 
those from whom he may honestly dififer. 



ROBERT AI. HEDGES. 

Among the early pioneers and highly re- 
spected citizens of Wells county, Indiana, is 
Robert M. Hedges, who was born in Fair- 
field county, Ohio, October 31, 1817. His 
parents, Elijah and Mary (Baxley) Hedges, 
were natives of Virginia, though the pro- 
genitor of the family originally came from 



England. Elijah Hedges was a, soldier of 
the war of the Revolution, serving in a Vir- 
ginia regiment. He was wounded in the serv- 
ice of the colonies and up to the time of his 
death received from his grateful country a 
pension of ninety-six dollars a year. His 
youth and early manhood were spent in 
Virginia. He was married there and had a 
family of three children before he moved to 
Ohio. It was during the administration of 
President Madison, and only about ten years 
after Ohio had been admitted into the Union 
as a state, that Elijah Hedges moved his 
wife and three children to Fairfield county. 
Here Robert M. Hedges, the subject of this 
sketch, was born and reared. His father, 
the old Revolutionary hero, remained there 
until his death, which occurred many years 
ago. He was the father of ten children, 
four bo}-s and six girls. One of the latter, 
Henrietta, is still living at Charleston, Illi- 
nois, at the age of ninety-three years. 

Upon the farm where he was born in 
Fairfield county, Ohio, Robert AI. Hedges 
grew to manhood. The opfxirtunities for se- 
curing an education in those days were lim- 
ited. Very little printed matter found its 
way to the cabins in the woods, text books 
were few and expensive and public schools 
at that time were practically unknown. Nev- 
ertheless, the youth of the 'twenties found 
means of improving his mind. 

On October 22, 1840, Mr. Hedges was 
united in marriage to Aliss Sophia Kirk- 
wood, a native of Franklin county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and born March 28, 1823. They went 
to housekeeping on a rented farm and re- 
mained in their native place until 1846, when 
they moved to Indiana and located in Harri- 
son township, Wells county. Here he bought 
eighty acres of land, paying three hundred 



572 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



dollars and incurring an indebtedness of one 
hundred dollars. It was in the dense woods, 
but he built a home upon it and li\'ed there 
for six years, at the end of which time he had 
thirty-five acres cleared and under cultiva- 
tion. An opportunity offering, in 1852 he 
sold the place and invested the proceeds in 
one hundred and fourteen acres, which is 
a part of the one-hundred-and-ninety-four- 
acre farm which he now owns. 

To Robert :\I. and Sophia (Kirk- 
wood) Hedges were born thirteen children, 
all of whom grew to maturity. All were liv- 
ing at the time of the death of their mother, 
in August, 1870, and were named as fol- 
lows: Mary J., wife of Alexander Lata- 
more, of Bluffton : Lucinda was the wife of 
Daniel Tuttle, but is now dead ; Jonas T. is 
dead ; Rebecca is the w-ife of James B. Ga\in. 
of Liberty township. Wells county; James 
K. married Eunice Neff and resides in Har- 
rison township; Elizabeth was the wife of 
Philip Ulmer. but is now dead ; William re- 
sides in Whitley county. Indiana: Julia is the 
wife of George L'lmer. superintendent of the 
Orphans' Home ; Joseph resides in Oregon ; 
George resides in Kansas; Lewis resides in 
Pulaski county, Indiana; Samuel resides in 
Liberty township; John, the youngest child, 
resides on the old homestead. 

In his life time Robert M. Hedges has 
made and accumulated much money. The 
years of the Civil war afforded many oppor- 
tunities for money-making and he had the 
ability and enterprise to embrace them as 
they came his way. He was three times 
married and is again a widower. Miss 
Martha Williamson was his second wife. 
No children were born to this union and her 
death occurred in 1877. His third wife was 
Mrs. Elizabeth Kendall, a widow whose hus- 



band had been killed in the Civil war. She 
died in April. 1895, leaving him one child, a 
daughter. Alice, the child of his old age. 

For upwards of half a century Robert 
M. Hedges has been a devout, active and 
attentive member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church and is firm in the faith. For some 
years he occupied the position of steward. 
In politics he is a Democrat, having cast his 
first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren 
in 1840. Despite his loyalty and fidelity to 
the party, he never sought public position for 
himself, his interest in politics being only for 
what he considered the good of the commun- 
ity. In Wells county, where the greater part 
of his life has been spent, he is honored and 
respected by all who have had the pleasure 
of knowing him. 



JOSEPH BURNS. 

Rising above the heads of the masses 
there have always been in every community 
indi\'iduals who by reason of pronounced 
ability and force of character have com- 
manded the unbounded esteem of their fel- 
lowmen. Characterized by the two resplend- 
ant virtues that never fail, perseverance and 
a directing spirit, such men always make their 
presence felt, and the vigor of their strong 
personality serves as a stimulus and incen- 
tive to the young and rising generation. To 
this energetic and enterprising class the sub- 
ject of this sketch very properly belongs. 
Enjoying distinctive prestige as a farmer 
and business man, he is also widely and fav- 
orably known as a director of enterprises 
and to a marked degree he has achieved re- 
pute as a moulder of public sentiment in the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



573 



community of his residence. Joseph Burns, 
although of foreign birth, is a striking ex- 
ample of strong, virile American citizen- 
ship. He is in the true sense of the term a 
self-made man and his rise from very humble 
circumstances to his present position as a suc- 
cessful farmer and progressive man of affairs 
forcibly illustrates what can be accomplished 
by a well defined purpose in life when that 
purpose is directed and fostered by correct 
principles and manly conduct. Mr. Burns 
was born of Irish parentage, but first saw the 
light of day in England, to which country 
his father, Michael Burns, moved when a 
young man. The subject's birth occurred in 
the city of Manchester on the 14th day of 
February, 1847. ^^'^ about three years later 
he was brought to the United States, the 
family settling in Jay county, Indiana, in 
185 1. Poor in this world's goods and with- 
out the aid of influential friends, Michael 
Burns found no rosy pathway to fortune in 
the new world. Purchasing a small tract of 
wild land, he labored hard to improve the 
same, meanwhile earning a little money by 
ditching for other parties. He was a man 
of great industry, knew not the meaning of 
idleness and enjoyed but little leisure while 
preparing a home and laboring for the sup- 
port of those dependent upon him. Intelli- 
gent beyond the average, he devoted his 
evenings to reading and study and in this 
way became quite well informed on many 
subjects, especially those questions relating 
to politics and national legislature. By per- 
severing effort he eventually succeeded in 
rising superior to unfavorable environment, 
and in the course of years found himself the 
possessor of a comfortable competence. 
He developed a good farm of one 
hundred and sixtv acres, which he sub- 



sequently sold for five thousand five 
hundred dollars, and purchased, in Oc- 
tober, 1866, an estate in Chester township, 
Wells county, where he made his home the 
remainder of his life. Michael Burns be- 
came an influential man in his neighborhood 
and was highly esteemed by all who knew 
him. He was a local politician of consider- 
able note and for many years his favor was 
courted by candidates of the Democratic 
party, as he exerted great influence among 
the voters of his township. A devout Cath- 
olic in religion, he expended his means lib- 
erally for the support of the church, he and 
James McCaffrey building the first house of 
worship in the town of Montpelier. Four 
children were born to Mr. Burns, the oldest 
of whom, John, a sergeant of Company F, 
One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry, in the 
Civil war, was wounded at the battle of Stone 
River and died from the effect of his injuries 
on the 8th of January. 1865. Mary, the sec- 
ond in order of birth, died while the family 
\\as enroute to the United States and was 
buried at sea; Emily died at Manchester, 
England, when an infant: Joseph, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, being the youngest of 
the famil}-. 

The early life of Joseph Burns was 
spent on the farm in Jay county and it is 
needless to state that fortune cast into his 
pathway no glittering crown. He grew up 
with a proper appreciation of the true nobil- 
ity of honest toil and from youth to manhood 
knew what it meant to earn his bread by the 
sweat of his brow. Amid the bracing ait 
and vigorous outdoor exercises, he acquired 
strength of limb and independence of mind 
which ser\ed him well when he began the 
struggle of life in later years. Young Burns 
was born with a thirst for knowledge and at 



574 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



an early age mastered the mysteries of the 
fundamental branches by attending a school 
taught in a little log building, which stood 
fully three miles from his home. The way 
to this backwoods college led through a deep 
forest, and in order to reach it in time for 
the morning lessons the lad was obliged to 
get out of bed in the wee small hours and 
start on the long tramp before daylight. Not 
infrequently the deep snows proved a de- 
cided hindrance, to wade through which 
taxed the physical powers of the boy to their 
utmost capacity. Notwithstanding the daily 
walk of six miles and the indififerent char- 
acter of the teaching, young Burns made 
rapid advancement and before his eighteenth 
year he had gone as far as his instructor 
could take him, mastering all of the common 
branches, in several of which he became un- 
usually proficient. He has always been a 
great reader and today his knowledge takes 
in a wide range of subjects, those bearing 
upon the political and industrial history of 
our country being among the ones in 
which he is especially well informed. 
Like a dutiful son, he remained at 
home assisting with the labors of the farm 
until his twenty-second year when he 
left the parental roof to make his own way in 
the world. Although penniless at this time, 
he looked forward with hope and began la)-- 
ing plans for future action. Thinking that 
a companion on life's journey would result 
to his advantage, Mr. Burns, on the loth 
day of April, 1871, was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Ann McCaffrey, of Wells 
county, daughter of James McCaffrey, and 
shortly thereafter moved to a small tract of 
woodland which he purchased with the pros- 
pect of paying for the same at some future 
day. Poor in purse, but rich in love and de- 



votion for each other and determined to 
make the most of their opportunities, the 
young couple set up their humble establish- 
ment and resolutely addressed themselves 
to the task of making a home and clearing it 
of debt. To narrate in detail how this was 
eventually acomplished, how they worked 
hard, denied themselves many privileges and 
made sacrifices which tried their souls as 
well as their bodies, would far transcend the 
limits of this article. Suffice it to say, how- 
ever, that by long continued toil and patient, 
persevering effort, the forest growth grad- 
ually disappeared before the sturdy strokes 
of Mr. Burns' ax until at length one of the 
finest and most valuable farms in Chester 
township rewarded the labors so heroically 
put forth. Mr. Burns cleared and developed 
with his own hands fully one hundred acres 
of land. His place is highly improved and 
well cultivated, containing substantial build- 
ings, fine fences and other accessories be- 
speaking the home of the intelligent and en- 
terprising husbandman. Situated in the 
richest of the Indiana oil fields, it would 
command a very high price if put on the mar- 
ket, and for agricultural purposes alone the 
place has been conservatively valued at one 
hundred dollars per acre. In addition to 
general farming and stock raising, Mr. Burns 
has made considerable money contracting for 
the construction of gravel roads and like 
work in this and other counties. He has 
already made over thirteen miles of public 
highway in the county of Wells alone, be- 
sides doing much street work in the city of 
Bluffton, realizing liberal returns from his 
contracts. For many years he has been a 
public auctioneer, his services in this capac- 
ity being in great demand throughout sev- 
eral northeastern counties. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



575 



In politics Mr. Burns is a Democrat of 
the old school and as such has rendered his 
party great service in every campaign in the 
last quarter of a century. Not only is he 
an active worker in the ranks, but as a pub- 
lic speaker he possesses a power surpassed by 
few. Logical in presenting facts, he im- 
presses them by strong, well-put argtiments 
and, rising at times to the heights of true 
eloquence, he seldom fails in convincing and 
always pleases and entertains his audiences. 
He is the soul of large hearted fellowship. 
Endowed with the natural wit and humor 
for which his nationality is especially dis- 
tinguished, he is the life of every social 
gathering graced by his presence and num- 
bers his warm friends by the score among 
all classes of people. As a neighbor he is ac- 
commodating at all times, generous to a fault 
and no worthy person or legitimate enter- 
prise ever appealed to him in vain. His hand 
is ever open to help the poor and distressed 
and his home is the abode of a generous hos- 
pitality which many of his friends delight 
to share. He was born within the pale of 
the Catholic church and has always been 
loyal to its precepts and liberal in the expen- 
diture of his means for its support. His wife 
and children also ha\'e been trained accord- 
ing to its teachings and are now among its 
zealous members in the county of Wells. 

Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of 
nine children : John, the oldest, born April 
lo, 1872, was graduated from the Bluffton 
high school, began teaching at the early age 
of sixteen years and followed educational 
work for a number of years in Wells county. 
Later he studied law, rose rapidly in the pro- 
fession and at this time is prosecuting attor- 
ney for the twenty-eighth judicial district, 
comprising the counties of Wells and Black- 



ford ; \\'illiam, the second child, died when 
five years old ; James was born and reared in 
Chester township, this county, and is now 
a resident of Montpelier ; Tilden, the next in 
order of birth, lives at home and manages the 
farm; Joseph H. is a tool dresser in the oil 
fields of Indiana and has prospered in that 
kind of work ; the other members of the fam- 
ily, Millie, Elizabeth, Patrick G., Anna and 
Felix, are still with their parents. 



ALBERT MEYER. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the repub- 
lic of Switzerland is one of the smallest 
countries of the world, it has sent a large 
number of emigrants to the United States 
during the years that have elapsed since in- 
dependence was secured. The people of that 
country, appreciating the blessings of lib- 
erty, of which they had had a strong example 
in their own land, were not slow to recognize 
the possibilities that opened out in splendid 
perspective for all who located early in this 
country. Accordingly, large numbers of the 
hardy Swiss have crossed the Atlantic and 
created for themselves homes in the great 
middle west of the United States. And here 
their descendants have become among the 
most intelligent, patriotic, industrious and 
upright of our great and wonderful cosmo- 
politan population. 

Peter Meyer, father of the subject, was 
born in Switzerland on the 22d of IMay, 
1831. He came to the United States with 
his parents when about four years of age. 
They first located in Stark county, Ohio, 
where they lived about one year, then moved 
to .\dams countv, Indiana, and settled in 



576 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



French township. He remained on the farm 
with his father until reaching his majority, 
and at that age began learning the carpen- 
ter's trade. After finishing his trade he came 
to Vera Cruz, Wells county, and here was 
united in marriage with Miss Sauer, of that 
village. To this union was born one child, 
but the mother and child both died late in the 
'fifties. In iSfio Peter Meyer chose for his 
second companion Miss Elizabeth Moser, 
likewise a native of Switzerland, born April 
5, 1842. To this union were born eight chil- 
dren, namely: Albert, the subject of this 
sketch; Jonas; Sarah, wife of William Frau- 
higer: Bertha married Philip Frauhiger; 
David, of Bluffton, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this volume: Jacob, Elizabeth 
and Ida, the last two named still unmarried. 
Although Peter Me}'er was a poor man when 
he attained his majority, he was industrious 
and economical and eventually became fairly 
well ofif as regards this world's goods. In 
i860 he bought eighty acres of land in Wells 
county, which he succeeded in converting 
into a splendid farm. Altogether he has 
owned about four hundred acres of land, the 
larger part of which he has divided among 
his children as they have attained to ma- 
turity. In religion he is a member of the Re- 
form church and in politics has always been 
a Democrat. 

Albert Meyer, the immediate subject of 
this sketch, as born in Harrison township. 
Wells county, Indiana, on the 5th of May, 
1867, the third in order of birth, and the 
oldest son of the eight children born to his 
parents. He was reared upon the parental 
homestead in his native township and is in- 
debted to the common schools for his mental 
training. He remained at home until reach- 
ing his majority, assisting his father on the 



, farm, then started out in life for himself. He 
was steady and reliable in his work, and was 
economical in his habits and was thus en- 
abled to save some money. He was at length 
enabled to purchase an eighty-acre tract in 
section 19, Harrison township, which has 
since been his home and where he has suc- 
cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
combined with stock raising. 

In November, 1890. Mr. Meyer was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah 
Schwartz, who was born in Vera Cruz, In- 
diana, though of German descent. She re- 
ceived a good common school education, is an 
intelligent and amiable woman and has in- 
deed proved to Mr. Meyer a helpmate in the 
truest sense of the word. Their union has 
been a most congenial and happy one and has 
resulted in the birth of the following chil- 
dren : Edward E., Levi, Pearl M., deceased, 
Fannie, Charles and Emma. In political 
views Mr. Meyer is a Democrat, manifesting 
an intelligent interest in the party of 
his choice and keeping well informed 
upon the issues of the day. He has 
never sought nor desired official sta- 
tion of any kind, preferring to de- 
vote his time and attention to his farming 
interests. There are no more progressive 
farmers in Wells county than Mr. Meyer and 
he has acquired a reputation as a farmer and 
stock raiser which is more than local. He is 
familiar with the latest methods of agricul- 
ture and in tilling his land he uses modern 
machinery and implements of the most ap- 
proved type. His place contains many val- 
uable improvements in the way of a resi- 
dence, barn and splendid outbuildings and 
he has spared no reasonable expense in sur- 
rounding himself with the comforts and con- 
veniences which make rural life attractive 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



577 



and desirable. His course through life has 
been prudent and upright and his example 
is worthy the emulation of all young men 
who desire to live so as to leave clear records 
behind them. While successful in the ac- 
cumulation of wealth, he is also rich in the 
possession of a reputation above reproach 
and a character which will bear the world's 
closest and strictest scrutiny. Respected as 
an upright, broad-minded, influential citizen, 
his name will long adorn the roster of Har- 
rison township's enterprising and represent- 
ative men. 



DAVID ^lEYER. 

One of the most prosperous young busi- 
ness men of Bluffton. Indiana, is David 
Meyer, a native of Wells county, born in 
Harrison township, January 17, 1872, and a 
son of Peter and Elizabeth (Moser) Meyer, 
of whom a more complete biography will be 
found on another page of this volume. To 
Peter Meyer and wife were born eight chil- 
dren, of whom David was the fifth in order 
of birth. Until seventeen years of age he 
attended the schools of his district and ac- 
quired a good education. After attaining his 
majority he went to work on a farm for his 
lirother, Albert, with whom he remained one 
year, after which he worked a year for his 
father, and then entered a partnership with 
Daniel Gilliom in the drilling of wells. This 
partnership existed until Alay 25, 1898, when 
it was dissolved and Mr. Meyer entered a 
partnership with Jacob Klopfenstine in the 
harness business at Blufifton, and has prob- 
ably the best establishment devoted to this 
line of trade in the city, his business extend- 
ing throughout the counties of Wells and 

37 



Adams. Mr. ]\Ieyer erected his present brick 
business block in the fall of 1900 at a cost 
of five thousand two hundred dollars. It is 
situated on Main street, is twenty by one 
hundred and twenty feet in size, and is one 
of the handsomest business blocks in town. 

June 15, 1899, Mr. Meyer was united 
in marriage with Miss Margaret Engeler, 
daughter of Frederick and Rosanna (Beber- 
stein) Engeler. Mr. Engeler was a promin- 
ent business man of Vera Cruz, Indiana, and 
a justice of the peace for many years. Mrs. 
Meyer was born in \^era Cruz, this county, 
October 22, 1875, and was highly educated 
in that town. She is a member of the Pres- 
byterian church at Blufifton, is a refined and 
cultured lady and is highly respected by all 
who know her. 

]Mr. Meyer exhibited considerable wisdom 
when he selected his present line of business 
as his vocation, as his firm has almost an 
exclusive command of the harness trade over 
Wells and Adams counties, the only competi- 
tion, in fact, being through the agents of 
manufacturing companies that turn out and 
place upon the market machine-made prod- 
ucts, which, all the world knows, are never 
equal, either in finish, quality or material, to 
hand-made articles. That Mr. Aleyer has 
made a success in his business is manifest 
from the high standing he occupies in com- 
mercial and trade circles, in which his integ- 
rity has never been called in question and 
in which his credit has never been impaired. 
The social position of Mr. Meyer and wife is 
in the best circles of Bluffton, and both are 
highly esteemed for their many personal ex- 
cellences of character. Few young men have 
attained a more exalted consideration by their 
fellow citizens than that reached by David 
Meyer. In his political affiliations he is a 



578 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



Democrat, and lie always takes an interest 
in the success of his party, though he does 
not aspire to public office. 



ALBERT OPPENHEIM. 

This is the age of the man with initiative. 
There is room for him in every progressive 
business, however crowded it may be. He is 
worth far more than the expert who can 
only do what he is told. The man of ideas 
has a high value, but his relative importance 
is slight as compared with that of the man of 
initiative power or the ability to put his ideas 
into practical use. The strength of the man 
with initiative is that he knows how to enter 
upon a matter, how to make beginnings. His 
(|ualification is common sense to a far greater 
extent than genius and his potency is of un- 
mistakable order. One of the distinctively 
able, progressive and representative business 
men of the city of Blufifton is he whose name 
initiates this paragraph, and he has gained 
prestige through well directed endeavor, be- 
ing identified with industrial interests of wide 
scope and importance and holding at the 
present time the position of assistant general 
manager of the Empire & American Gly- 
cerine Company, which represents one of the 
leading industrial enterprises of Blufifton. 

Albert Oppenheim comes of stanch Ger- 
man ancestry and is a native son of Wells 
county, Indiana, having been born in the city 
of Blufifton, on the 8th of October, 1855, and 
being a son of Sigmund and Mary J. (Ni- 
black) Oppenheim. Sigmund Oppenheim 
was born in the city of Mannheim, on the 
river Rhine, Baden, Germany, the date of his 
nativity having been February 15, 1821. He 
was reared and educated in his native citv. 



where he continued to reside until 1848, 
\\'hen, as a young man of twenty-seven years, 
he emigrated to America, landing in New 
York city, where he remained for a short 
interval. At the time of the ever memorable 
gold excitement in California, in 1849, l''^ 
joined the hegira to the Pacific coast, believ- 
ing an opportunity was presented for him to 
gain independence. He took passage on a 
boat from New York, making the voyage 
by way of the isthmus of Panama and ar- 
riving in due time in San Francisco, whence 
he made his way to the gold fields, where he 
was engaged in placer-mining about oue year, 
being quite successful in his efiforts. At the 
expiration of this period Mr. Oppenheim 
returned to the east and located in Somerset, 
Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business, continuing the enterprise for two 
years and thereafter being engaged in the 
same line of business in Mansfield, Ohio, un- 
til 1853, when he came to Bluffton. Here 
he established himself in business, opening a 
general merchandise store and eventually 
building up a large and representative trade. 
With this enterprise he continued to be ac- 
tively identified until 1876, when he retired 
from active business. He was a man of lofty 
integrity of character, was progressive and 
energetic as a business man and ever held 
the unequivocal confidence and esteem of all 
who knew him, and in his death, which oc- 
curred on the 8th of September, 1897, the 
community lost one of its honored and valued 
citizens and one of its pioneer business men. 
He was a Democrat in his political proclivi- 
ties, taking a lively and intelligent interest 
in the questions and issues of the hour and 
manifesting a public-spirited interest in all 
matters pertaining to the general welfare of 
his home, city and county. 

Mr. Oppenheim was married at Bluffton 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



579 



in 1854 to Miss Mary J. Niblack, who was 
born in Harrison county, Ohio, January 31, 
1833, and was a daughter of James Niblack. 
Of this union were born three children, con- 
cerning whom we offer the following brief 
data : Albert is the immediate subject of this 
sketch ; William S. is a representative mem- 
ber of the bar of the city of Chicago; and 
Addie is the wife of Amos Cole, who is en- 
gaged in the hardware business in Bluffton. 
Mrs. Oppenheim still retains her home in 
Bluffton, where she has resided- the major 
portion of her life, but she passes a portion 
of each year in the state of California. 

Albert Oppenheim was reared to maturity 
in his native city of Bluffton, where he com- 
pleted the course of study in the high school, 
and at the age of fifteen years he entered 
upon an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, 
to which he devoted his attention for a period 
of three years, when his health became so im- 
paired as to necessitate his withdrawal from 
this line of business. He then learned the art 
of telegraph}', becoming an expert operator 
and being employed by various railroad com- 
panies in different towns in Indiana and 
Ohio. He later became an operator in the 
offices of the Western Union Telegraph 
Company in the city of Cincinnati, where 
he remained until 1883, when he returned to 
Bluffton and opened a Western Union office, 
of which he was made manager, while in 
connection with the duties of the same he also 
became local agent for the American Ex- 
press Company. He continued to be identi- 
fied with these two concerns until 1890, 
when he resigned both positions, and in the 
same year was elected to the office of clerk of 
the Wells circuit court, of which he re- 
mained incumbent for a period of four years, 
giving a most capable and satisfactory ad- 



ministration of the affairs of the office. Upon 
his retirement from this position Mr. Oppen- 
heim was made general manager of the Unit- 
ed Telephone Company, having charge of the 
installation and operation of various plants 
in Indiana and maintaining his headquarters 
in Bluffton. He resigned this office in 1897, 
when he accepted his present position as as- 
sistant general manager of the Empire & 
American Glycerine Company. In 1892 Mr. 
Oppenheim became associated with P. A. Al- 
len in the ownership of the Bluffton Banner, 
which is one of the oldest Democratic news- 
papers in the state, and he still retains his 
interest in this enterprise. In 1900 he was 
elected a member of the directorate of the 
Marietta Torpedo Company at Marietta, 
Ohio, and was simultaneously chosen treas- 
urer of the company, and he is still incumbent 
of these positions, while in 1901 he was elect- 
ed treasurer of the Scio Glycerine Company, 
of Scio, Ohio. He is distinctively a man of 
affairs, and his marked executive and admin- 
istrative ability makes his interposition in 
any undertaking a practical voucher for the 
success of the enterprise, and no better mark 
of the objective appreciation of his powers 
can be had than that afforded in the import- 
ant offices of which he is incumbent. 

In politics Mr. Oppenheim accords an un- 
qualified allegiance to the Democratic party, 
in whose cause he takes an active interest. 
He has held no office save that of clerk of 
the courts, and his personal political ambi- 
tion was satisfied with the one position and 
he desires no further preferment in the line. 
Fraternally Mr. Oppenheim is an appreciative 
member of the time-honored order of Free- 
masons, in which he has completed the circle 
of the York Rite and also advanced to the 
seventeenth degree in the Scottish Rite 



58o 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



bodies, being identified with t)ie consistor)^ of 
Sublime Princes of tlie Royal Secret in the 
city of Fort Wayne. He is also identified 
with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- 
lent and Protective Order of Elks. 

While employed as a telegraphist in the 
city of Muncie, Indiana, on Christmas day of 
the year 1876, Mr. Oppenheim was united 
in marriage to Miss Alice O. Davis, who was 
born at Harrison, Dearborn county, Indiana, 
on the 29th of February, 1856, being a 
daughter of Jared and Eliza (Jaquish) 
Davis. Mr. and Airs. Oppenheim became the 
parents of three children, namely : Sigmund, 
who was born on the 8th of October, 1877, 
and who died in infancy ; Blanche, who was 
born July 6, 1879, and Ethel, who was born 
on the 1st of July, 1882. The Misses Op- 
penheim have received excellent educational 
advantages and are numbered among the 
gracious and popular young ladies of Bluff- 
ton, being prominent in the social life of the 
city and having the privilege of extending 
the hospitalities of a cultured and refined 
home. 



JOHN Y. HOWER. 

Among the highly respected and well 
known residents of Blufifton is John Y. 
Hower, a brief record of whose career 
through life is here given. He is a son of 
Jacob and Hannah (Kimball) Hower, was 
born in Mahoning county, Ohio, April 22, 
1 84 1, and was there reared to manhood on 
his father's farm. During his boyhood years 
he attended the district schools and acquired 
what was considered a good education for 
that day. He was possessed of an iron will 
and great determination and was ever read}- 



to defend himself and friends from encroach- 
ment upon their rights. At the age of twen- 
ty years he moved with his parents to Branch 
county, Michigan, and after there attaining 
his majority came to Indiana, where he met 
and married Miss Ethelinda Chalfant, Sep- 
tember 21, 1865. This union resulted in the 
birth of one daughter, now Mrs. Zeffa 
Brineman. Shortly after his marriage he 
moved to Michigan, but on account of the ill 
health of his wife Mr. Hower again brought 
his family to Indiana and was later employed 
as foreman and timber buyer for E. H. 
Montgomerv, which firm had located in 
Bluffton, and with whom he remained for 
over sixteen years. 

Mr. Hower was bereft of his wife June 
16, 1895, ^""i "^ May, 1900, he chose for his 
second companion Mrs. Mary Wanamaker, 
of Warren, Ohio. Mr. Hower is at present 
employed as a timber buyer and is consid- 
ered by the trade as one of the best posted 
men in his line and the best judge of timber 
of any one in this section of the country. In 
political matters Mr. Hower is a Democrat, 
and since becoming a resident of Bluffton 
has served as street commissioner of the city 
one term and three terms as a member of the 
common council, and at one time was most 
favorably spoken of as a candidate for sheriff 
of Wells county. In religion he is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bluff- 
ton, and for several years was a teacher in its 
Sunday school. He is a liberal contributor 
of his means to the support of the church and 
active in promoting its good work, is a strict 
observer of its teachings and fully exempli- 
fies by his walk through life the sincerity of 
his profession of faith. 

Mr. Hower, as has been intimated above, 
is a man of inflexible determination, and a 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



581 



resolution once formed by him is as un- 
changeable as the laws of the Medes and 
Persians, when his conscience tells him he is 
right. He is greatly respected for his in- 
tegrity and all who know him consider his 
word as good as his bond. 



HON. M. C. BLUE. 

Gratifying indeed must it be to the good 
wife and mother, as she descends the latter 
half of life's slope, to know that the man she 
loves, the husband of her youth and father of 
her children attributed to her every success 
that has come to him in life. The more ex- 
alted the station he holds, the higher the hon- 
ors that are his, the more brilliant his suc- 
cess, the greater the joy that thrills her heart 
in knowing that to her wifely care and solici- 
tude much, indeed if not all of it, is attribut- 
aljle, and that the lover of her girlhood, 
whiise love has only intensified with the 
elapse of time, accords to her the full praise 
and credit for having made him what he is. 
Such a wife and mother is Mrs. Rhoda 
Richey Blue, wife of Hon. M. C. Blue, of 
Lancaster township. Wells county, Indiana. 
Beginning life heavily handicapped by pov- 
erty, unable to read or write at the age 
of fifteen, he managed to acquire a lib- 
eral education, particularly in mathematics, 
served his county as surveyor, afterwards as 
auditor, and later his state in the halls of leg- 
islation. All of this he credits to his wife. 
It is not that he lacked the material in him- 
self to accomplish it, but without her to 
guide, direct and inspire hiin with the un- 
alterable purpose to dare and do, he would 
have been swerved from his course manv a 



time and might ha\e relinquished the strug- 
gle in discouragement. 

Hon. M. C. Blue was born in Miami 
county, Ohio, April 16, 1836, and is the son 
of L'riah and Rachael (Moore) Blue. The 
family originally came from Virginia, set- 
tled in Kentucky and after a brief residence 
there moved to Ohio and later to Wells 
county, Indiana. At the time of the latter 
removal the subject of this sketch was a boy 
less than four years old. In those days gov- 
ernment land was not scarce in that region. 
Lancaster township possessed some advan- 
tages over its neighbors, and Uriah Blue de- 
cided to establish a home for his family on 
section 15, so he entered upon and took pos- 
session of one hundred and sixty acres of 
government land in the midst of the dense 
forest. Five paltry dollars was all the money 
he had left after establishing his home, but 
he had a superabundance of pluck and en- 
ergy. He had a good occupation that could 
now be turned to advantage and the habits 
of industry and thrift that had been his all his 
life were in themselves a superior species of 
capital with which to "stake" any man. All 
his life he had been handy with tools and in 
early manhood he had followed coopering 
and wagonmaking. A general repair shop 
was opened convenient to his forest home. 
His services were soon in demand by neigh- 
bors for miles around and gradually his in- 
come grew until soon the family found 
themselves quite comfortable. When work 
was slack in the shop the time was occupied 
in the clearing and thus, by the practice of 
unflagging industry and the most rigid econ- 
omy, the Blue family were nicely getting on 
in the world. 

During the boyhood of M. C. Blue In- 
diana's superb school system had not yet been 



582 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



conceived. What few seats of learning 
there -were were widely scattered, poorly 
equipped with books and furniture and 
wretchedly conducted, so that by the time the 
subject of this sketch arrived at the age of 
fifteen he knew little of books or schools or 
learning. He knew the letters of the alpha- 
bet and might have been able to do a little 
spelling, but was wholly unable to read. Up 
to that time work on his father's farm or in 
the clearing occupied every moment at his 
disposal; there was no time for study. As 
he grew older, however, he began to realize 
the advantages a man of education pos- 
sessed over the one who was illiterate. It 
was this that first inspired in him a thirst 
for knowledge. It grew and developed until 
it became almost insatiable. The result might 
have been easily foreseen. By the time he 
arrived at the age of manhood M. C. Blue 
had acquired an education ecjual to that of 
any young man in Wells county and far su- 
perior to many. By teaching he had secured 
the means to attend school at Murray and 
later took a course at the Roanoke Seminary. 
In mathematics he especially excelled, which 
led him to undertake the higher branches, 
algebra, geometry and trigonometry, which 
he soon mastered and was before long reck- 
oned one of the most accomplished civil en- 
gineers in the northern half of the state. 

The brothers and sisters of Hon. M. C. 
Blue are Mary, widow of McCoy Smith ; Lu- 
cinda, wife of David McKinsey, of Okla- 
homa; James, deceased ; Catharine, deceased ; 
Uriah, a citizen of Oklahoma; John, 
deceased ; Malissa; wife of J. O. Kun- 
kle. Their parents died many years ago, 
the father until then residing upon land he 
liad entered more than sixty-six years 
ago. He died firm in the faith of the Bap- 



tist church, of which he had been a member 
many years. He was an affectionate husband 
and father, a good, quiet neighbor and a citi- 
zen who was honored and respected far and 
wide. 

May I, 1866, M. C. Blue was united 
in marriage to Miss Rhoda A. Richey, the 
daughter of William S. Richey, one of the 
early pioneers of Wells county. She is a lady 
of many accomplishments, of refinement and 
education, a woman of splendid intelligence 
and sound discernment who is never decei\-ed 
by blandishments and sophistry. To her pen- 
etration, good judgment and expedition in 
arriving at correct conclusions her husband 
says he is indebted for all that he has been 
since he met her, all that he now is or ever 
hopes to be. This is a very high tribute to 
the sagacity and virtues of the good lady, 
but it is one that is verified by all her friends 
and acquaintances and friends in Wells coun- 
ty, and their name is legion. 

Six children, five of whom are living, 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blue. They 
are George C, November 15, 1867; Dr. C. 
L., December 16, 1868; Ulvin A., January 
21, 1870; Lola Z., July 3, 1871; Fred P., 
April 10, 1875, and Don I., September 2;^, 
1882. George C. is a graduate of Valparaiso, 
having taken the commercial course. He 
married some time ago a very accomplished 
young lady. Miss Dora ^^'isner. The Doctor 
graduated from the Fort Wayne Medical 
College with high honors and is now located 
at Tocsin, where he has built up a large and 
lucrative practice. In 1901 he took a post- 
graduate course in medicine and surgery in 
Chicago. He is wedded only to his profes- 
sion, not having yet married. Each of the 
other children have received a good common 
school education. 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



583 



Mr. and Mrs. Blue are both members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he 
for many years has been a class leader. He 
has also been superintendent of the Sunday 
school, takes a deep interest in charitable 
work and all that relates to religion. He is 
recognized, and very justly so, as one of 
the pillars of the church. In politics he has 
always been a thorough-going, consistent 
Democrat. In other years, while the ardor 
of youth was still upon him, he was an un- 
tiring worker in the ranks of those who are 
derisively Termed "the unterrified" and it is 
chiefly through the labors of such men as 
Hon. M. C. Blue that Wells county has been 
held so steadily iu the Democratic columns. 
Without any solicitation on his part, he was 
nominated for the office of county surveyor 
and was elected by more than the normal ma- 
jority. Later he was nominated and elected 
to the office of county auditor and discharged 
the duties of the office four years. Since then 
he has been twice elected to the legislature, 
where he served his county with distinction. 
A careful examination of the records of that 
body will disclose him as the author of and 
to have been instrumental in the passage of 
many valuable laws now on the statutes, the 
benefits of which all the people of Indiana 
are now enjoying. 

While generous and liberal almost to pro- 
digality, Mr. Blue, by the practice of self- 
denial and economy in matters pertaining to 
his own tastes, has saved much of the money 
he acquired by his labors and by judicious 
investments. The early years of his life were 
years of privation and they taught him many 
a lesson as to the value of money. To the 
education thus acquired he owes much for 
the provident habits of his life. They have 
enabled him to accumulate considerable val- 



uable property. Four hundred acres of his 
real estate is alone valued at thirty thousand 
dollars. He is still active in business, man- 
aging his farms, raising stock and buying 
and shipping hogs. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, having at one time held 
membership in Lodge No. 145, Blufifton. 

Although upwards of sixty-six years of 
age, Hon. M. C. Blue is a man who is vigor- 
ous and well preserved. His mental faculties 
are unimpaired. He has traveled much and 
read deeply, and is possessed of good mem- 
ory and a most commendable habit of obser- 
vation which has stored his mind with facts 
ever convenient to be drawn upon. He is a 
fluent speaker, who on occasions rises even 
to eloquence. In private conversation he is 
delightfully companionable, a man whom the 
most casual acquaintance would treat with 
deference and whom the stranger would 
readily mark as a personage of deserved 
prominence. 



WTLLIA?*! WARREN ^IcBRIDE. 

The subject of this review is one of the 
honored pioneer citizens of Bluffton and 
bears a name which has been intimatelv iden- 
tified with the annals of the city and Wells 
county since the initiative period of their de- 
velopment. His father was one of the first 
to engage in business in the little hamlet, 
which has developed into a prosperous and 
attractive city, the capital of one of the or- 
ganic divisions of a great commonwealth, 
and was otherwise concerned in the indus- 
trial progress of this favored section of the 
state of Indiana; while the subject himself 
has passed essentially his entire life in Bluff- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



ton, succeeding his honored father in busi- 
ness, and has contributed to its material prog- 
ress and prosperity in no insignificant de- 
gree. He has been an important factor in 
commercial, public and civic affairs for a 
long term of years, and thus has done much 
to advance the general welfare. His private 
and business life is pregnant with interest 
and incentive, no matter how lacking in dra- 
matic action, for in the connection we find 
the record of an honorable and useful life, 
consistent with itself and its possibilities in 
every particular, so that there has not l^een 
denied to him the full measure of popular 
confidence and regard in the community 
where he has lived and labored to so goodly 
ends. Of him it has been well said : "His 
history is a part of the history of the county 
and his career as a business man has been 
long and honorable. He has seen the city of 
Bluffton grow from a veritable frontier ham- 
let of a half dozen primitive houses to its 
present position as one of the most attractive 
little cities of the state and has had his part 
in its upbuilding, even as had his father be- 
fore him." 

William Warren McBride is a native son 
of the old Buckeye state, with whose pioneer 
history the name was concerned, even as was 
it later with that of the contiguous state of 
Indiana. He was born in the town of Salem, 
Montgomery county, Ohio, on the 24th of 
December, 1838. being a son of William and 
Barbara (Harbaugh) McBride. When he 
was less than three years of age his father, 
who was a cabinetmaker by trade, removed 
with his family from Ohio to Indiana, tak- 
ing up his abode in Bluffton on the 22d of 
February, 1841, "almost l^efore this now 
flourishing city had attained the dignity of a 
frontier village." Here he established the 



pioneer furniture and undertaking business, 
his place also being equipped for cabinetmak- 
ing and repair work, thus meeting in these 
lines the requirements of the people of the 
place and period. He built up a flourishing 
business, was known as an exemplary man 
in all the relations of life, and here he con- 
tinued to make his home until he was sum- 
moned to that "undiscovered country from 
whose bourne no traveler returns," his death 
occurring on the 15th of May, 187 1, at the 
age of sixty-six years. He was a Democrat 
in politics and was a devoted member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and active in its 
work. His wife died on the 3d of Novem- 
ber, 1853. in her fortieth year, having been 
a woman of noble and gracious character and 
one whose influence was marked in the social 
and religious life of the early days, she like- 
wise having been a devout adherent of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

William Warren McBride, as already in- 
timated, grew up in the little pioneer town, 
and the exigencies of time and place imply 
that his early educational advantages were 
limited in scope, being confined to an attend- 
ance in the subscriptions schools during the 
three winter months of each year. At an 
early age he entered his father's store, where 
he applied himself diligently to learning the 
details of a business to which he was destined 
to devote his attention as a vocation through- 
out his active business career. Under the 
careful and effective direction of his father 
he soon attained proficiency in the art of cabi- 
netmaking and in the general repair work 
xA'hich came to the establishment, and this 
was of varied character, transcending lines 
specifically assigned. On the death of his 
father the subject came into sole possession 
of the business, which has expanded in scope 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



585 



and importance with the growth of tlie city 
and which is, as it has ever been, one of the 
representatix'e mercantile enterprises of the 
county. The aim has ever been to keep in 
toucli with the demands and requirements of 
the people of the community, and even to 
anticipate them, so that the business has nat- 
urally been cumulative, while the fair and 
honorable policy maintained from the start 
has resulted in the consecutive retention of 
public confidence and consequent supporting 
patronage. At the present time the estab- 
lishment shows an exceptionally large and 
comprehensive stock of furniture, including 
not only the grades of more moderate price, 
but also the finest products of the great man- 
ufactories whose advancement in this im- 
portant field of art industry, if the expres- 
sion be permitted, has been almost phenome- 
nal, the capacity of the spacious building be- 
ing practically tested, while the ecjuipment 
in the undertaking department has ever been 
maintained at the highest standard. Mr. 
McBride's only son is now associated with 
him in the conduct of the business, with 
which three generations of the family have 
thus been identified, and the subject still 
maintains an active supervision of the enter- 
prise, though he finds release from many of 
the more arduous and exacting duties 
through the able interposition of his son and 
coadjutor, who is one of the progressive and 
representative young business men of his na- 
tive city. The store is located on Main street, 
south of Washington, and stands nearly on 
the site of the original building occupied by 
the subject's father in the early days, said 
building having been destroyed by fire. It 
was the first furniture store established in 
the town and the present building, erected 
in 1863, is a familiar landmark and one 



around which cluster man}- interesting mem- 
ories of the pioneer days. In the little room 
at the rear of the store assembled the first 
Sunday school ever organized in Blufifton, 
and it is of interest to note in the connection 
that of those in attendance at its first session 
Mr. McBride is the only one now living. 

In politics Mr. McBride is a stanch ad- 
herent of the Democratic party and has taken 
an active interest in party affairs. In 1890 
he was elected coroner of the count}- and has 
served consecutively in this office to the pres- 
ent time. He has ever been known as a pro- 
gressive and public spirited citizen, and his 
influence and support have been extended in 
favor of every enterprise and undertaking 
tending to conserve the material prosperity 
of the city and the general welfare of the 
community. His religious faith is that of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and both he and 
his wife have long been active members of 
the church of this denomination in Bluffton. 
Fraternally he is identified with Bluffton 
Lodge No. 114. I. O. O. F.. in which he has 
held membership for twenty-eight years. In 
business he has achieved success through 
honoral)le effort, untiring application and 
capable management, and in private life he 
has gained that warm personal regard which 
arises from true nobility of character, defer- 
ence for the opinions of others and from un- 
varying kindliness and courtesy. The family 
home is one of the attractive residence prop- 
erties of the city and is a center of refined 
hospitality. 

On the 5th of December. 1861. Mr. ]Mc- 
Bride was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
Miller, daughter of Adam and Eliza (Sim- 
mison) Miller, the former of whom was one 
of the sterling pioneer farmers of \\'ells 
county, owning land southeast of Bluffton. 



586 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



where tlie Six-mile church now stands. Air. 
and Airs. AIcBride became the parents of 
three children, namely: Mary Ellen, who 
was born January 8, 1863, became the wife 
of Herbert H. Deam, of Bluffton, where she 
died on the 30th of September, 1902; James 
Alfred, born December 13, 1869, is associat- 
ed with his father in business, as previously 
noted; and Maud Miller, born April 22, 
1876, remains at the parental home. 



SAMUEL A. HAFLICH. 

Among the conspicuous residents of Rock 
Creek township, Wells county, Indiana, is 
Samuel A'. Haflich, of whose ancestors men- 
tion is made on another page of this volume. 
Samuel A. Haflich is a son of Jacob and 
Anna (Hoover) Haflich. Jacob Haflich was 
born in Pennsylvania, from which state he 
migrated to Ohio, where he married. Sam- 
uel A. Haflich was born in Rock Creek town- 
ship. Wells county, Indiana, January 23, 
1849, ^lis parents having moved here some 
time previously. The father purchased one 
hundred and seventy-five acres of wild wood- 
land, with but two houses between his place 
and Huntington. He had a capital of eigh- 
teen dollars in cash when he came here, but 
managed to build a log house, which an- 
swered his purpose until 1862, when he erect- 
ed a fine brick dwelling and here reared his 
family, but in 1880 moved to Alarkle, where 
his death occurred. 

Jacob Haflich was a charter member of 
the Horeb Lutheran church and he. William 
Wert, Samuel Fafe, Samuel Haflich and 
John Working constituted the first congre- 
gation, of which Jacob was one of the first 



elders. He was a Democrat in politics, was 
very popular with his party and under its 
auspices was elected to several positions of 
honor and trust, including that of township 
trustee, which office he held four years. To 
Jacob and Anna (Hoover) Haflich were 
Ixirn five children, viz : Charlotte, deceased ; 
John, deceased; Reuben, deceased; Samuel 
A., the gentleman whose name opens this 
sketch, and Mary A., wife of Jacob Farling. 

Samuel A. Haflich was reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits on the old homestead, but in 
his boyhood days was permitted to attend 
the district school during the winter seasons. 
During the summers he continued to assist 
on the farm until he had attained the age 
of twenty-one years, after which he hired 
his time to Jacob Shiveley for eight months 
at the same class of work. He then worked 
for his uncle a while, then went to Michigan, 
where he went on the railroad for a short 
time as a brakeman, but returned to the old 
farm, on which he took a lease. 

In 1874 Mr. Haflich was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah A. Lesh, daughter of 
Jacob and Margaret (Erhart) Lesh. This 
young lady was born in Rock Creek town- 
ship. Wells county, in 1857, and was edu- 
cated in the common schools. This union 
resulted in the birth of four boys and two 
girls, as follows: Clara A., deceased: Jacob 
H. was graduated from the Markle high 
school, and later took a commercial course 
at Indianapolis and subsequently became a 
teacher in the common schools of the coun- 
ty; Clifford C. was graduated from the Mar- 
kle high school and also from the Hunting- 
ton school and Danville Commercial School ; 
William A. has received a common school 
education ; Curtis E. and Cressie. The par- 
ents of this familv are members of the Luth- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



587 



eran church, and are among the most highly 
respected residents of the county. In pon- 
tics Mr. Haflich is a Democrat and is a faith- 
ful worker for his party, but has never 
sought any personal political preferment. 



JOXAS ELICK. 

This native young farmer was born Sep- 
tember 29, 1854, and has made Rock Creek 
township, Wells county, his residence during 
his entire life. He is a son of Jacob and 
■Mary C. ( Hoke) Elick, who came here from 
Hocking county, Ohio, about the year 1850, 
and purchased the farm now owned by Wil- 
liam Haflich on the Blufifton and JMarkle 
road in Rock Creek township. 

Jacob Elick and Alary C. (Hoke) Elick 
had born to them a family of nine children, 
of whom four are still living, namely : Jo- 
seph H., Jonas. Aaron S. and Alary C, the 
last named being the wife of Samuel H. 
Golden. 

Jonas Elick was reared to agricultural 
pursuits and was given a good common 
school education. At the age of twenty j-ears 
he rented the home farm, and on January 
21. 1877. he married Aliss Alary E. Preskey, 
who was born in Wayne county. Indiana, 
November 28, 1858, a daughter of Augustus 
Preskey, a native of Germany. To this union 
have been born nine children, namely : Clara 
A., born December 14,. 1877; Charles F., 
born April 6. 1879; Nora E., born August 
31, 1882: Dennis E., born December 18, 
1884: Mervin O., born October 7, 1886; 
Lawrence AL, born October 12. 1888; 
Bertha V., born September 5, 1890; Stella 
I., born September 13, 1892: and Vera P., 
born June 22, 1895. 



Air. and Airs. Elick are members of the 
Alethodist Episcopal church at Sparks, of 
which church Mr. Elick is one of the trus- 
tees, and has also served as class leader and 
superintendent of the Sunday school. In the 
work of this congregation they take great 
interest and freely contribute financially to 
its maintenance. In politics Mr. Elick is a 
Democrat, but although faithful to the prin- 
ciples of his party, and using his influence 
whenever opportunity ofifers to promote its 
access to power, he never has sought an of- 
fice at the hands of his fellow townsmen nor 
interfered too officiously in the control of 
local afifairs. From the farm which he now 
owns and occupies he has, through his skill 
and industry, acquired an ample reward and 
stands today among the foremost agricultur- 
ists of Wells countv. 



WILLIAAI H. TAYLOR. 

Among the most prosperous young farm- 
ers of Rock Creek township. Wells county, 
Indiana, is William H. Taylor, a native of 
Ohio, who was born November 28. 1850, and 
is a son of Isaac and Sarah A. (Cox) Tay- 
lor, of English descent. William Taylor, 
grandfather of William H. Taylor, was but 
18 years of age when he left England and 
landed in the United States after a six-weeks 
\'oyage, with but fifty cents, or its equiva- 
lent, in his ppcket. He soon found employ- 
ment, however, but notwithstanding his good 
fortune he could not reconcile himself to tlie 
surrounding circumstances, become lonesome 
and longed to be home again. But lack of 
means prevented his return to his native land 
at that time and he sought a home in New 
Jersev, across the river from the mercantile 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL\NA. 



metropolis of the Union. In New Jersey 
Mr. Taylor met and married Amy Lewellen, 
a native of the state, and for a hvehhood for 
some time cut and marketed wood, but as the 
star of empire at that time had a strong ten- 
dency to "westward wend its way," Mr. Tay- 
lor was not slow to yield to its guiding in- 
fluence and by its ray was lighted as far as 
the state of Ohio, whence he came to Indi- 
ana several years later and about 1849 settled 
in Wells county, where his death took place 
when he was about ninety years old. Isaac 
Taylor, son of William and father of Wil- 
liam H. Taylor, was born, reared and mar- 
ried in Ohio and came to Indiana about 185 1. 
He settled on the present farm in Rock 
Creek township, on which he passed the re- 
mainder of his life. Of his family of five 
sons and two daughters, three are still living, 
William H., whose name opens this record; 
Ezra, who lives in Montpelier. Ohio, and 
Newton, who has his residence in Eort 
Wayne. 

William H. Taylor was a mere balie when 
brought to Wells count}-, Indiana, and here 
he was reared in the swamp forests of the 
wilderness of Rock Creek township. When 
old enough he attended either the subscrip- 
tion or district schools of the neighborhood, 
at which he acquired a fair education, con- 
sidering the limited literary advantage of- 
fered ])y the pedagogues of the region. But 
he had a retentive memory, and, being apt at 
his lessons, succeeded better than the average 
boy. However, farm duties early called 
young Taylor away from school and in these, 
child as he was, he took a manly part. His 
father had died and his elder brothers were 
in the army, assisting in quelling the Rebel- 
lion, so that, until he was twenty-one years 
old, the lad continued to be the mother's sole 
aid and comfort. 



On January 26, 1879, ^^■illiam H. Tay- 
lor was joined in marriage with Miss Martha 
J. Mullies, a native of North Carolina, who 
was born in Iridic county, that state, June 
15, 1861, the daughter of William and Re- 
becca (Nicholson) Mullies, who moved to 
Indiana when Mrs. Taylor was aliout six 
years old. This union has been fruitful in 
the birth of six children, all still living, viz : 
Cora E., born March 19, 1880, married Cur- 
tis E. Wolfcale and lives in Wells county; 
William I., who was born May 15, 1881, is 
unmarried and still has his home under the 
paternal roof; Nettie Pearl, born May 22, 
1883; Chester E., bom March 29. 1886; 
Alaudie A., born October 25. 1887, and 
Charles M., born August 28, 1889 

The Taylor family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and donated to 
the congregation the ground on which the 
])resent church edifice has been erected. Of 
this church Mr. Taylor is one of the trustees 
and for several years was the sexton. In 
politics Mr. Taylor is a substantial Republi- 
can, is very popular with his party and the 
general public and has served his fellow 
townsmen as supervisor several terms to the 
great satisfaction of all concerned. . 



ELI HAFLICH. 

The Haflich family, of Wells county, In- 
diana, is of German, descent, but the progen- 
itors of Eli Haflich were among the early 
settlers of Pennsylvania, where Isaac Haf- 
lich, his father, was born and reared. Eli 
Haflich, now among the most prominent 
farmers of Rock Creek township, was born 
in Richland county, Ohio. December 25, 
1840, and was Jjrought by his parents, Isaac 



WELLS COUNTY, INDL'^NA. 



and Catherine (Fletcher) Haflich, from 
Ohio to Indiana in the spring of 1848 and 
has made Wells county his liome ever since. 
Isaac Haflich, on his arrival in Wells coun- 
ty, entered the tract of land now owned by 
Jacob Beil, which was then a mere wilder- 
ness. This tract he succeeded in clearing up 
and in converting into a profitable farm in 
due course of time, beginning, as a matter of 
course, in the usual pioneer way, by erecting 
a small log cabin for shelter and clearing a 
small field for the cultivation of corn, on 
which to subsist until better provisions could 
be secured. There were at that time but few 
people at jVIurray and a few at ]\Iarkle, and 
the intercourse between these but at rare in- 
tervals. Nevertheless Isaac Haflich acquired 
one hundred and sixty acres of land and at 
the time of his death was a well-to-do man, 
the result of his own industry and good man- 
agement. He was a great hunter, and it was 
through this that he got his first financial 
start. 

Eli Haflich was the seventh born in a 
family of twehe children, of whom there are 
only five now living, viz: \\'illiam. Eli, A. 
J.. John, and Barbara, wife of Alfred Breck- 
ley. At the early age of eight years, Eli 
Haflich was brought to Rock Creek town- 
ship. Wells county, and assisted his father 
in clearing up the land, but did not neglect 
attending the common school whenever he 
found an opportunity and thus secured a very 
fair education. Eli continued, until he at- 
tained his majority, to faithfully assist his 
father, and after becoming of age worked 
one yeai' for him at the wages current at the 
time, and then, until his marriage, hired out 
to whomsoever needed his services. 

In November, 1865, Eli Haflich was 
united in matrimony with Miss Catherine 



Derr. whose parents came to Wells county, 
Indiana, from Richmond county, Ohio, about 
the year 1862. Mr. Haflich at the time of 
his marriage was comparatively poor and had 
but fifty cents in cash and a horse that cost 
him one hundred and forty dollars, but the 
animal soon died and he was left without 
either horse or cash. He now owns two 
hundred and forty acres of good land, near- 
ly all of which he has acquired through his 
indefatigable industry, which was shown 
even when a boy, by running a threshing ma- 
chine and later by raising hogs and cattle. 
In 1894 he erected his present fine brick resi- 
dence. 

To the marriage of Eli Haflich and Cath- 
erine Derr have been born five children, viz : 
William A., Ervin L., Millie, Franklin and 
Jennie, all married with the exception of the 
youngest. ]\Irs. Haflich having been called 
away by death, Mr. Haflich married for his 
second helpmate Mrs. Lavina L. (Zink) 
Haflich. widow of John H. Haflich. Mr. 
Haflich is a devoted member of the Lutheran 
church, in v\hich he has also served two 
years as superintendent of the Sunday 
school, during which period he has not 
missed a single Sabbath. In his political 
aftinities, Mr. Haflich is a solid Democrat and 
has filled the office of township assessor eight 
years. He is one of the influential citizens 
of \\'ells county and is honored and respected 
throusrhout its length and breadth. 



SAMUEL ca:mpbell. 

One of the most respected residents of 
Wells county, Indiana, is Samuel Campbell, 
who was born in Summit count^■, Ohio, 



S90 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



April 24, 1843. and is a son of Samuel and 
Eleanor (Kyser) Campbell, the former of 
whom lost his life in the late Civil war. The 
mother remarried, and settled in Union 
township, Huntington county. When four- 
teen years old, Samuel Campbell, the 
subject, started out in life for himself. He 
worked in a saw-mill, on a farm, or 
at whatever he could get to do and when the 
war began, he gallantly responded to his 
country's call to arms to aid in suppressing 
the rebellion. He enlisted in August, 1862, 
in Company G, One Hundred and First In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain 
Truesdale, and was mustered into the Unit- 
ed States service at Indianapolis, whence the 
regiment was sent to the front, via Cincin- 
nati, in order to head off the contemplated 
attack by the rebel general Braxton Bragg 
on that commercial metropolis of the Buck- 
eye state. Crossing the river at Cificinnati, 
the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, and so onward to Milton, Tennessee, 
where Mr. Campbell engaged in his first 
battle, following which came those of Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, 
Chattanooga and several minor engagements 
in 1864. Mr. Campbell also followed the 
fortunes of his regiment through the mem- 
orable Atlanta campaign and was with Sher- 
man on his famous march to the sea, took 
part in the reduction of Savannah in De- 
cember, marched through the Carolinas and 
took part in all skirmishes and the battle of 
Bentonville, North Carolina, in March, 
» 1865, and of Raleigh in April, 1865. As 
the war here closed, the One Hundred and 
First Indiana joined in the march to Wash- 
ington to take part in the grandest military 
pageant the world had witnessed, or proba- 
bly ever will again witness-^that of the 



Grand Review. After having shared in this 
historical event, in May, 1865, the One Hun- 
dred and First Indiana was mustered out of 
the service in June, 1865, and honorably dis- 
charged, and Mr. Campbell reached Markle, 
Indiana, in time to witness, if not participate, 
in the notable Fourth of July celebration 
that followed his return home. A recapitu- 
lation of the engagements in which the One 
Hundred and First Indiana took part will not 
here be out of order, although not in chron- 
ological precision : Hartsville, Milton, Hoo- 
ver's Gap, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Chat- 
tanooga, Missionary Ridge, Graysville, 
Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, 
Dalton, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville, Ac- 
worth, Pickett's Mills, Gulp's Farm, New 
Hope Church, Big Shanty, Lost Mountain, 
Smyrna, Peach Tree Creek, Chattahoochie 
River, Ezra Church, Atoxi Creek, Allatoona, 
Jonesboro, the last twenty-three being in- 
cluded in the Atlanta campaign. It is left to 
the reader to decide whether Mr. Campbell 
is entitled to the houorable name of "sol- 
dier" or not. For all this service to his coun- 
try, Mr. Campbel, besides the usual pay and 
rations he received while in the service, is 
now allowed a pension of ten dollars per 
month. On his return from the army, Mr. 
Campbell was again employed in a saw-mill 
and in this line of business he has been em- 
ployed for a number of years. He also 
learned the carpenter's trade, and has \v'orked 
more or less at this business ever since. 

In 1868 Mr. Campbell was united in 
marriage, in Murray, Wells county, with 
Mrs. Catherine (Maddux) Redding, daugh- 
ter of John Maddux and widow of W. L. 
Redding, and a highly cultivated lady. This 
union has been crowned by the birth of one 
child, Alice, who was born in 1870, was edu- 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



591 



cated in tlie common schools of Wells coun- 
ty, and is now the wife of Andrew Christ- 
more, farmer and holder of oil well interests. 

Fraternally Mr. Campbell is a member 
of Post No. 560, Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, at Markle. in which he has served 
as officer of the day and as adjutant one 
term, and it is not necessary to add that no 
one save an honorably discharged soldier 
(or seaman) from the military service of 
the United States can hold this position. The 
religious connection of the Campbell family 
is with the Lutheran church of Horeb. in 
which Mr. Campbell has served as deacon. 

As a mere incident, or episode in the life 
of Mr. Campbell, it may be worthy of men- 
tion that about 1897, in company with Capt. 
D. L. Elliott, of Warren, Harman Allen, 
Christopher Lew, Nathan Luckey, J. J. Crev- 
iston and others, Mr. Campbell visited the 
scenes of their former military exploits, in- 
cluding Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge and 
Lookout Mountain. Their sensations on 
this visit may be more easily imagined than 
described. 



CHARLES E. ROE. 

Among the enterprising and progressive 
young men of Wells county, Indiana, is 
Charles E. Roe, who was born in Union 
township. May 27, 1872; a son of Jeremiah 
and Mary (Garnand) Roe, a biographical 
record of whom will be found on another 
page of this volume. Charles E. Roe attend- 
ed the common schools of Union township 
during the winter months of his minority 
and secured a good education, but during 
the summer months his services were utilized 
on the home farm, where he was thoroughly 



trained in the pursuit of agriculture, his life- 
long calling. After attaining his majority 
he rented the homestead, which he conduct- 
ed until he was twenty-four years old. On 
January 5, 1895, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Jennie C. Haflich, a native of 
Wells county and born March 2, 1878, the 
daughter of John H. Haflich. and it may be 
here mentioned that biographical records of 
members of this highly respected family will 
be found in this work. To this union have 
been born two daughters and one son, name- 
ly : Cecil Dores, born January 11, 1898; 
Grace Dexter, February 20. 1900, and Don- 
eil Russell, August 30, 1902. 

In politics Mr. Roe is a Democrat, and 
takes an active interest in the success of his 
part}-, though he does not care for political 
honors in the way of office. His career as a 
farmer is another example of what a young 
man can accomplish by industry, frugality 
and skill. If to these be addded a steady aim 
at some particular object the missile will 
eventually be sure to reach its mark. If to 
this be added also integrity of purpose and 
honest endeavor, failure becomes an impos- 
sibility. Such indomitable industry has 
placed the subject among the foremost of 
his contemporaries, as his farm is acknowl- 
edged by his neighbors to be one of the best 
tilled in the township, taking into considera- 
tion its dimensions, the farm being well im- 
proved in all respects. Mr. Roe also gives 
some attention to the breeding of thorough- 
bred live stock. He is widely known 
throughout ^^'ells county, owing in a large 
measure to his nativity, but still more to his 
many good qualities as a gentleman and a 
citizen, and the high esteem in which he and 
his amiable wife are held in the community 
is well deserved. 



592 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



HAMON ALLEN. 

Hamon Allen is a native of Stark coun- 
ty, Ohio, and was born November 9, 1845, 
a son of Robert and Mary (Miller) Allen. 
He is one of the respected citizens of the 
county and is a man of honor and integrity. 
Although by trade he is a blacksmith, he en- 
gages also in agriculture. He has also 
served as a defender of his nation's flag in 
her hour of direct trouble, and of this epi- 
sode in his life further mention will be made. 

Robert Allen, father of Hamon Allen, 
was also a blacksmith by trade. While still 
a young man he migrated from Pennsyl- 
vania to Ohio and there became acquainted 
with the Miller family, who were also na- 
tives of Pennsylvania and with whom he 
later became more closely allied. Mr. Allen 
remained in Ohio until 1846 when he sold 
his blacksmith shop and other possessions 
and came to Wells county, Indiana, and lo- 
cated in the town of Murray, where he erect- 
ed a shop and carried on his trade in con- 
nection with farming until about 185 1, when 
he removed to Huntington county, and set- 
tled one mile west of Markle and later moved 
into the village. He was the first and only 
blacksmith and mechanic in the place at that 
time, and there he and his wife passed the 
remainder of their days. To the marriage 
of Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born ten chil- 
dren, of whom five are still living, viz : Wil- 
liam, Levi, Hamon, Alfred and Etura, the 
last named being the wife of Leander 
Ubanks. 

Hamon Allen was a mere balie when 
brought to Indiana by his parents. His 
father died in 1857 and his brother William 
succeeded to the charge of the homestead, 
as well as of the blacksmith shop, and Ha- 



mon partially learned his trade under his 
brother, but had not finished a legitimate ap- 
prenticeship when the stern tocsin of war 
vibrated throughout the land and the terri- 
ble struggle for the predominance of free- 
dom or slavery began. Young Allen was 
decidedly in favor of the former and was, 
moreover, patriotic to the very core of his 
heart, and at once enlisted in the military 
service. In 1864, being then not nineteen 
years of age, he enlisted in Company D, Fif- 
ty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with 
which he took part in the battles of Nash- 
ville and Franklin, Tennessee, and also fol- 
lowed the rebel general Hood in his notor- 
ious flight. Although Mr. Allien passed 
through this campaign without a bodily 
wound, he was deprived of his hearing, in 
part compensation for which misfortune he 
now receives a pension of tAventy dollars per 
month. From Tennessee Mr. Allen was 
sent with his regiment to Texas, where he 
served until honorably discharged in No- 
vember, 1865, some months after the war 
had been closed. On his return home he re- 
sumed work in the blacksmith shop and cared 
for his mother with filial tenderness until 
her death. 

In 1868 Mr. Allen was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Laura A. Brickley, a daugh- 
ter of George and Bulinda (Wolfcale) 
Brickley. The young couple settled down to 
housekeeping in Markle, Huntington coun- 
ty, where Mr. Allen took charge of the 
blacksmith shop and conducted it until 1891, 
when he removed to his farm, one mile east 
of Markle, where he still follows his trade 
in conjunction with farming. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Allen have been born seven children, 
namely: Nettie M., wife of Charles Line; 
George F., who married a Miss Meadaugh; 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



593 



Bertha, wife of George Brown, a resident of 
Rock Creek township ; Lewis, Lawrence W., 
Grace O. and Ralph E., all four still at 
home. The parents are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church at Markle, and 
in politics Mr. Allen is a Democrat. No 
family in Wells county are more highly re- 
spected than that of Mr. Allen and he is 
himself regarded as one of its most honor- 
able citizens. 



:MRS. SARAH E. BROWN. 

Prominent among the highly respected 
families of Wells county, Indiana, is that of 
Mrs. Sarah E. Brown. She is a daughter of 
John and Sarah (Dickerhoof) Werking, 
who early came from Ohio and settled in 
Rock Creek township, where they afterwards 
resided imtil their deaths. Mrs. Brown was 
born on the homestead, where she still re- 
sides, July i6, 1858, her father having en- 
tered and settled on this tract of land in an 
early day, it then comprising eighty acres, 
unimproved. They were the parents of five 
children, of whom three still survive, name- 
ly : Mary E., who is the wife of Scott 
Bricker, of Bluffton; Emanuel, and Mrs. 
Brown. The latter was united in marriage, 
December 23, 1877, in Wells county, with 
David F. Brown. Mr. Brown was born in 
Pennsylvania, where his father, David 
Brown, was also born and where he died 
when David F. was a small child. Imme- 
diately after this bereavement the widow 
moved her family to Indiana and settled in 
Rock Creek township. Wells county, on a 
small farm, where David F. was reared to 
manhood. He was well educated and be- 



came one of the leading politicians of Wells 
county, and at one time was a candidate for 
sheriff on the Democratic ticket. 

After marriage David F. Brown and 
wife went to housekeeping on her father's 
farm, on which they lived about three years 
and then rented the Deam farm, one-half 
mile east of Bluffton, where they lived fif- 
teen years, then moved on the farm on which 
Mrs. Brown now resides. There Mr. Brown 
died April 11, 1899. David F. and Sarah 
E. Brown were the parents of three children, 
namely: John H., born June 25. 1878, who 
is an exemplary young man, well educated 
and is managing the farm for his mother; 
George F., born August 28, 1880, is mar- 
ried to Bertha Allen, and Jennie C, who was 
born January 10, 1883, has a good common 
school education and still makes her home 
with her mother. Mrs. Sarah E. Brown is 
a lady of refinement and gentility and stands 
high in the best circles of Wells county. 



GEORGE W. EARL. 

It is always pleasant and profitable to 
contemplate the career of a man who has 
made a success of life and won the honor and 
respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the 
record of the well-known farmer whose name 
holds this sketch, than whom a more whole- 
souled or popular man it would be difficult 
to find within the limits of the township 
where he has his home. 

Charles Earl, one of the old settlers of 
Union township, was born to John and Mary 
(Earl) Earl in Holwin township, Trumbull 
county, Ohio, July 4, 18 19. John Earl, the 
subject's grandfather, was a native of Eng- 



594 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



land, wliile liis grandmother, Susanna Ray, 
was a native of Germany. Both the Earl 
and Ray families emigrated from their 
mother countries and settled in Pennsyl- 
vania, where John Earl and Susanna Ray 
fell in love and were married. It was here 
that John Earl, the father of Charles, spent 
his boyhood and here also that he married 
his second cousin, Mary Earl. Shortly after 
their marriage they emigrated to a farm in 
Trumbull county, Ohio, where they lived 
until their deaths. To their marriage six- 
teen children were born, eight sons and eight 
daughters, two of whom are living, William, 
of Markle. Indiana, who was the sixteenth 
child, and Charles. 

Charles Earl was the fourteenth child of 
the family and was reared on his father's 
farm in Ohio. As a boy he showed a fond- 
ness for horses and has owned some fine ani- 
mals in his day, one of which had a mark 
of 2:15. Neglecting his early education, he 
worked on his father's farm until his mar- 
riage, ill. 1848, to Miss Margaret A. Cart- 
wright, of Trumbull, Ohio. In 1850 they 
came to Wells county, settling on the farm 
in Jefferson township now occupied by their 
son George, where they lived and reared 
their family. They were the parents of ten 
children : Hames, married to Matilda Mc- 
Afifee; John, married to Eliza Confer, lives 
in Union township; Henry, the husband of 
Martha Byrd; Freeman, whose wife was 
Rebecca Robinson, lives in Fort Wayne, In- 
diana; George W., whose biography appears 
in another place ; Robert, deceased ; Charles, 
living in the west ; Mary, who is the wife of 
William Robinson; Stephen, whose biogra- 
phy appears later, and Sarah, the wife of 
Chester Greer, who lives in Allen county, 
Indiana. The wife of Charles Earl died in 



December, 1892. since which time he has 
been living with his children, spending most 
of the time with his son, S. D. Earl. 

Stephen Earl was born in 1864 and re- 
ceived his early education in the district 
schools of Jefferson township. He stayed 
at home with his parents until he was twen- 
ty-one years old and was married December 
19, 1887, to Miss Henriette Crow, who was 
born in Allen county, Indiana, in 1865, her 
parents being natives of Ohio. Mr. Earl 
bought his present farm in 1895 and has 
continued to reside there since. He is the 
father of four children: Hazel, born May 
15, 1892; Hershell, September, 1894; Ber- 
nell. July, 1897, and Bertha, November. 
1900; he is also the guardian of Jennie 
Feighner, a child whom he has reared. Be- 
ing members of the United Brethren church, 
Mr. and Mrs. Earl are held in high esteem 
by their ancestors. In politics he is one of 
the substantial Democrats of Union town- 
ship. 

Among the old families of Jefferson 
township and Wells county is the Earl fam- 
ily, as a representative of which George W. 
Earl is socially and politically prominent. 
He is a son of Charles and Margaret ( Cart- 
wright) Earl and was born August 16, 
1855. in Jefferson township. Wells county, 
Indiana, on the farm he now owns. His 
father. Charles Earl, came to Wells county, 
Indiana, from Trumbull county, Ohio, in 
1853, and purchased the quarter section in 
Jefferson township, where he lived until he 
had reared his family of ten children. He 
has reached the advanced age of eighty-three 
years and is at present living with his son 
in Union township. George W. Earl was 
the fifth of ten children and was reared on 
the farm he now occupies. He attended the 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



595 



district school and received a fair education, 
all that could be obtained at that time. When 
he was twenty-one years old he, with his 
brother, rented the old farm, which they cul- 
tivated jointly. October 23, 1879, he was 
married to Miss Mary Hatfield, a daughter 
of John and Clarena (Mills) Hatfield, and 
born in Ohio. September 10, 1858. The 
Hatfields came from Montgomery county, 
Ohio, and settled in Union township, Indi- 
ana, where the father tilled his farm and also 
held the position of justice of the peace for 
a number of years. The subject bought part 
of the old Earl farm and in 1887 built the 
present brick mansion, consisting of nine 
rooms, and in 1894 he built a large barn, 
thirty-Six by eighty-two feet in size. He 
now owns one of the finest and best im- 
proved farms in Jefferson township, consist- 
ing of one hundred and twenty acres. He 
started out in life poor, but by successful 
management has succeeded in reaching a 
comfortable position, being now worth at 
least eight thousand dollars. He and his 
wife have one daughter, Ethel, born July 
13, 1887, who is at present a student in the 
eighth grade in the Ossian schools, being 
also a student of music. The United Breth- 
ren church enrolls them among its members, 
their faith being cast with the liberal branch. 
Mr. Earl is a supporter of Democratic prin- 
ciples and has been an ardent worker in the 
party all his life, having been a member of 
the central committee from Jefferson town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Earl are people of more 
than ordinary intelligence and have a wide 
influence in their community. They are good 
neighbors, excellent citizens and are highly 
respected by all with whom they come in 
contact, because of their many excellent 
personal qualities. 



B. F. KAIN. 

To be twice honored by his party with a 
nomination for an important county office 
and to be twice elected, each time with a very 
pronounced majority, a man must be pos- 
sessed of at least some of the virtues which 
commend him to his fellow men. Of course, 
some time, a wily politician may so pull the 
strings and manipulate affairs that he can 
boost himself into a lucrative office, but the 
"wily politician" who lives on a farm and 
earns his bread by the sweat of his brow is 
an unknown species of politician in this 
country. B. F. Kain, of Union township, 
Wells county, Indiana, the subject of this 
sketch, was, like Cincinnatus, taken from the 
plow to be installed into office. For two 
terms he took charge of the finances of 
Wells county and at the close of .his adminis- 
tration turned over to his successor the funds, 
books and papers, accounting to the utmost 
penny for all the money that had passed 
through his hands. 

B. F. Kain was born in Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, October 5, 1845. He was the 
son of John and Polly Kain. His parents 
were natives of Pennsylvania, but his pater- 
nal grandparents had emigrated to this coun- 
try from Ireland, while his maternal grand- 
parents were natives of the Keystone state. 
John and Polly Kain were married in their 
native state and soon thereafter moved to 
Ohio, where he took up the occupation of 
farming and continued to prosper. \\"nh 
a view of bettering his condition and secur- 
ing advantages not to be had in Ohio, he, 
about October i, 1850, moved his family to 
Union township. Wells county, Indiana, tak- 
ing up a piece of unimproved government 
land. Upon this land, which was situated 



596 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



in the woods, he immediately proceeded to 
create a home. The lirst house was of the 
rudest kind, built of fresh-cut logs and 
roofed with clapboards. Before half the roof 
was on the family moved in with their few 
effects and necessary furniture. Hard work, 
continued in during long hours and eternally 
persisted in, will almost work miracles in 
the way of improving and clearing land. 
But a few years sufficed to give the Kain 
homestead a far different aspect from that 
which it represented in its original condition. 
It had materially increased in value, while 
its owner thrived and prospered to such an 
extent that in 1861 better buildings and a 
more comfortable home was erected. Here 
the parents of B. F. Kain spent their days 
until the summons of the grim reaper called 
them from this to the better world. 

John Kain was a man of much public 
spirit, whose influence was felt far beyond 
the limits of his immediate neighborhood. 
In those days the township assessor was an 
important official. He was elected to this 
position and held the office for some sixteen 
years. He was a believer in the principles 
of the Democratic party and was always suf- 
ficiently consistent to vote the way he be- 
lieved. Democracy seems to have had a firm 
hold on the pioneers of that section and the 
complexion of the returns from Wells coun- 
ty after each successive election in present 
years would indicate that it has not lost much 
of its grip. John and Polly Kain were the 
parents of the following children : Daniel, 
Isabella, J. D., Mary A., Hugh, D. F., Alex- 
ander, B. F., J. W., Sarah, William H. and 
Eliza J. One, D. F., is a minister of the 
gospel. 

B. F. Kain was five years old when his 
father moved into the woods of LTnion town- 



ship. When he was old enough he assisted 
in the work of the clearing and of the farm, 
attending the district school when it was in 
session in the winter and through it securing 
an education which has been ample to him 
for every purpose. When he grew to man- 
hood he spent several years in the school 
room as a teacher, being quite successful. It 
was while he was engaged in this vocation 
that he met, wooed and won Miss Caroline 
Ellingham, daughter of Charles E. and Han- 
nah (Scolton) Ellingham, she being also a 
teacher in the schools of Wells county. The 
Ellinghams were natives of England who 
emigrated to America and located in Rock 
Creek township in 1838. The young couple 
were married in 1869, when the groom was 
twenty-one years old. Soon after his mar- 
riage B. F. Kain rented the farm of his 
wife's father and continued in the work of 
agriculture quite successfully for many years. 
In 1880 he bought a farm of eighty acres 
on which he made his home until 1890, when, 
for the purpose of educating his children, he 
removed temporarily to Bluffton. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kain are the parents of five 
children : George F., the first born, is dead ; 
Esther A., the wife of C. P. Hannah, is a 
graduate of the Bluffton high school and 
has taught a number of terms in the county, 
also in the state of Nebraska, where she 
resided some time; Alonzo is a barber and 
doing a good business in Bluffton; Charles 
is a graduate of the Northern Indiana Nor- 
mal School at Valparaiso and is now a tele- 
graph operator on the Clover Leaf; Homer 
F. is still single and living at home. The 
Kains are members of the Christian church, 
Mr. Kain having served for a number of 
years as a trustee. He is a Democrat in poli- 
tics and was nominated and elected by his 



WELLS COUNTY, INDIANA. 



597 



party to the office of county treasurer and so 
acceptably did he discharge the duties of the 
position that in 1896 he was renominated 
and re-elected by an increased majority. On 
retiring from office he again took up his 
home on his farm, where he resided three 
years, when he sold out and removed to 



Bluffton, where he now resides. He is the 
owner of eighty acres, known as the John 
Johnson farm, the management of which is 
conducted under his own supervision. Per- 
sonally he is a quiet, modest, unassuming 
man, well known and highly respected 
throughout the county. 



